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  • TABDC - Activities

    TABDC (TURKEY):
    Tel: 90 (212) 236 00 17 Fax: 90 (212) 259 72 51
    Email : [email protected]
    Web site: www.tabdc.org

    TABDC (ARMENIA) :Tel: 374 (10) 35 11 80 Fax: 374 (10) 35 12 40
    Other TABDC branches
    TABDC EU(Belgium) :Tel : 32 (495) 77 08 67. Email : [email protected]
    TABDC (USA) :Tel: 1 (516) 869-7525 Fax: 1 (516) 365-0560


    TURKISH - ARMENIAN
    BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
    TABDC



    ***** TABDC encourage EU to build bridges between Turkey and Armenia -
    A delegation meets with senior EU officials



    Yerevan, Ankara, 27 April 2007. On April 18 and 19, a delegation of the
    Turkish Armenian Business Development Council met with European
    Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn and with EU Special
    Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby. Mr Rehn plays a
    leading role in preparing for Turkey's accession to the European Union.
    Mr Semneby has the responsibility of coordinating EU relations with the
    South Caucasus countries and contributing to conflict resolution in the
    region.

    The TABDC delegation also met with experts and staff in think-tanks,
    NGOs and EU institutions whose work touch upon relations between Armenia
    and Turkey. The TABDC delegation was composed of Noyan Soyak, Burcu
    Gültekin and Nicolas Tavitian.

    The purpose of the visit was to brief EU leaders and opinion formers on
    the status of relations between the two republics of Turkey and Armenia
    and to encourage the EU to contribute to the normalisation of relations
    between them. EU candidate country Turkey has kept the joint border
    closed since 1993 and has no diplomatic relations with neighbouring
    Armenia.

    The delegation briefed the Commissioner for enlargement on the issue of
    Turkish-Armenian relations and forwards their recommendations. They
    stressed the importance of the issue, emphasizing in particular the
    positive impact which the normalization of relations between Turkey and
    Armenia would have on the Nagorno-Karabakh process, on stability and
    development in the Southern Caucasus in general. They further
    highlighted how both Turkey's and Armenia's relations with the European
    Union would benefit, should relations be normalized, and encouraged the
    EU to play an active role in mediating in good faith between the two
    countries.

    The TABDC representatives emphasized furthermore how little has been
    done so far by the EU Institutions. There is no dialogue between
    Armenian and Turkish authorities to speak of, and initiatives by
    business or civil society to build bridges between the two countries are
    virtually non-existent due to the many obstacles. Europe therefore also
    has a role to play in ensuring that cross-border cooperation and
    "people-to-people" exchanges are initiated between Turkey and Armenia
    without further delay in preparation for the full restoration of
    relations between the two countries.

    Both EU Commissioner Olli Rehn and Peter Semneby agreed on the
    importance of Turkey's relations with Armenia. They expressed their
    commitment to the issue and their support for bridge-building
    initiatives. They also referred to the important role which the
    Armenian Diaspora in Europe could play in the process.

    The Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council is a non-governmental
    network of Armenian and Turkish business leaders working since 1997 for
    the restoration of normal relations between Turkey and Armenia and for
    the reopening of their common border.

    +++++++++++

    *** TABDC Visits San Marino

    San Marino April 11, 2007 -

    The Turkish Armenian Business Development Council delegation, headed by
    the Co-Chairman Kaan Soyak was introduced by Angelo Boccardelli,
    Chairman of the Foundation "Giacomo Maria Ugolini Ambassador", to the
    President of the Council of Europe H.E. Fiorenzo Stolfi who's also the
    Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of San Marino.
    During the meeting, TABDC and the Foundation GMU shared the current
    situation between Armenia and Turkey and several possible solutions were
    discussed. In particular, the TABDC and the Foundation GMU expressed
    their support for the establishment of Intergovernmental Commissions
    between the two Governments to work on all the issues including history.
    The Foundation "Giacomo Maria Ugolini Ambassador" of the Republic of San
    Marino is willing to Team with the Turkish Armenian Business Development
    Council and be active in the Reconciliation process in order to bring
    Peace and Development in the Caucasus. In order to favor the
    Reconciliation process, H.E. Fiorenzo Stolfi expressed his interest in
    inviting the representatives of the Intergovernmental Commissions of the
    two Countries to work in San Marino, the "Oldest Republic of the World"
    and the symbol of "Liberty and Peace".
    In this context, the Foundation GMU has in its calendar several
    conferences and seminars promoting and supporting Turkey's accession
    into Europe
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