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Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 21 2009
Armenia says not discussing 1915 events with Turkey
Armenia's foreign minister appeared to contradict his Turkish
counterpart, Ali Babacan, when he said ongoing talks between officials
of the two countries on ways to normalize relations did not include
discussions on Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman
Empire.
"I don't think the Turkish foreign minister could say that Armenia and
Turkey are discussing the 1915 events," Eduard Nalbandian said,
according to news site PanArmenian.net. Babacan said in remarks this
week that the events, which Armenians say constituted the first
systematic genocide of the 20th century, were one of the issues being
discussed in ongoing talks with Armenia.
Babacan was responding to a question on a resolution introduced in the
US House of Representatives this week which calls for US recognition
of the alleged genocide. He warned any intervention by third countries
in the ongoing process between Turkey and Armenia would undermine
their efforts to normalize relations.
Turkey and Armenia have had no formal ties since 1993, and Ankara
insists a normalization of relations depends, among other things, on
Armenia's reversal of its policy of supporting the Armenian diaspora's
efforts to gain international recognition for genocide claims. The
closed-door talks between Turkish and Armenian officials are aimed at
"full normalization" of relations, Babacan said earlier. Both sides
are tightlipped on the content of the talks and it remains to be seen
whether they could lead to the restoration of diplomatic relations and
the opening of their border.
21 March 2009, Saturday
TODAY'S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
March 21 2009
Armenia says not discussing 1915 events with Turkey
Armenia's foreign minister appeared to contradict his Turkish
counterpart, Ali Babacan, when he said ongoing talks between officials
of the two countries on ways to normalize relations did not include
discussions on Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman
Empire.
"I don't think the Turkish foreign minister could say that Armenia and
Turkey are discussing the 1915 events," Eduard Nalbandian said,
according to news site PanArmenian.net. Babacan said in remarks this
week that the events, which Armenians say constituted the first
systematic genocide of the 20th century, were one of the issues being
discussed in ongoing talks with Armenia.
Babacan was responding to a question on a resolution introduced in the
US House of Representatives this week which calls for US recognition
of the alleged genocide. He warned any intervention by third countries
in the ongoing process between Turkey and Armenia would undermine
their efforts to normalize relations.
Turkey and Armenia have had no formal ties since 1993, and Ankara
insists a normalization of relations depends, among other things, on
Armenia's reversal of its policy of supporting the Armenian diaspora's
efforts to gain international recognition for genocide claims. The
closed-door talks between Turkish and Armenian officials are aimed at
"full normalization" of relations, Babacan said earlier. Both sides
are tightlipped on the content of the talks and it remains to be seen
whether they could lead to the restoration of diplomatic relations and
the opening of their border.
21 March 2009, Saturday
TODAY'S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL