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US reps concerned about Turkey's position on relations with Armenia

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  • US reps concerned about Turkey's position on relations with Armenia

    Interfax, Russia
    July 31 2009

    U.S. congressmen concerned about Turkey's position on relations with
    Armenia

    YEREVAN July 31


    Eighty-two U.S. congressmen have sent a letter to U.S. President
    Barack Obama, in which they accused Turkey of failing to fulfill its
    obligations to normalize relations with Armenia without any
    preconditions.

    "We write to you [Mr. President] with our concerns about Turkish
    backpedaling on the agreed upon roadmap to normalize relations between
    Turkey and Armenia," the letter says, according to the Armenian
    Assembly of America.

    "While the Government of Armenia remains committed to this roadmap and
    has long offered to establish ties with Turkey without preconditions,
    Turkey's public statements and actions since April 24th stand in sharp
    contrast to this agreement and undermine U.S. policy that
    normalization take place without preconditions," the letter says.

    The letter was signed by 82 U.S. congressmen representing both the
    Republican and the Democratic Party.

    Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said this Tuesday that he would
    accept an invitation from his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, to
    attend a soccer match in Turkey in October "only on condition of open
    borders [between Armenia and Turkey] or if we are on the threshold of
    lifting the blockade of Armenia."

    "Under the current circumstances, the Armenian side expects
    constructive moves to provide an appropriate atmosphere for the
    visit," Sargsyan told Tuesday's news conference.

    Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference, "We
    continue to remain decisive in the process of Turkish-Armenian
    relations."

    "The speed of this process depends on how clearly the parties are able
    to conduct dialogue. Turkey's only wish is normalization of all
    relations in the region, We need to rid the region from
    tensions. After that, our communication in this direction will
    continue," he said.

    Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan at the invitation of
    the Armenian president in September 2008. The two countries' national
    football teams had a game during that visit. Another such game is
    scheduled to take place in October, and Sargsyan has been invited to
    it.
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