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ANKARA: Turks And Armenians To Rebuild Historic Bridge On Border

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  • ANKARA: Turks And Armenians To Rebuild Historic Bridge On Border

    TURKS AND ARMENIANS TO REBUILD HISTORIC BRIDGE ON BORDER

    Hurriyet
    Feb 28 2010
    Turkey

    Turkey and Armenia are cooperating to reconstruct a 10th-century
    bridge on the Arpacay River despite the faltering of the process of
    political reconciliation between the two countries.

    The Arpacay River establishes the border between Turkey and Armenia;
    the ruined bridge that once spanned it had one foot in each country.

    The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, or TEPAV, initiated
    the effort to reconstruct the bridge, which is on the historic Silk
    Road. The project is supported by both Turkish President Abdullah
    Gul and the Yerevan administration, and is said to be looked upon
    favorably by members of the Armenian diaspora as well.

    Built by the Armenian Kingdom, the defunct bridge connotes the lack
    of economic and political ties between the two countries, but its
    reconstruction could symbolize a new era in bilateral relations.

    TEPAV President Guven Sak first approached Armenian Prime Minister
    Tigran Sarkisian and Deputy Culture Minister Arev Samelyan about
    the project. Gul, who has been interested in the effort since he was
    first informed about it in February 2009, was briefed on the current
    situation Friday following the visit of a TEPAV delegation to Yerevan.

    According to TEPAV officials, there is an urgent need to have a set
    of creative and genuine confidence-building steps in the relationship
    between Turkey and Armenia.

    "It is important to strengthen the momentum. The positive impact of
    the political reconciliation on society should be reinforced," said
    one official from TEPAV, which has also been active in projects to
    bring Palestinians and Israelis together. "Symbolic steps will give
    visibility to the political will. These steps should increase the
    contacts between the two peoples and enable them to open the borders
    in their mentalities."

    Such steps should also aim at preparing the economic infrastructure
    of the South Caucasus, the official added.

    Turkey previously restored the Armenian church in Akdamar Lake, near
    the eastern city of Van, as well as some of the historical buildings
    near Kars. Armenia, however, did not participate in those efforts
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