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Russian, Armenian Leaders Discuss Turkey In Fresh Talks

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  • Russian, Armenian Leaders Discuss Turkey In Fresh Talks

    RUSSIAN, ARMENIAN LEADERS DISCUSS TURKEY IN FRESH TALKS

    Asbarez
    Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
    ROSTOV

    Russia (RFE/RL)-The presidents of Russia and Armenia discussed the
    future of Turkish-Armenian relations during fresh talks held in the
    southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Tuesday. They made no public
    statements afterwards.

    The talks coincided with the second and final day of a European
    Union-Russia summit, also held in Rostov-on-Don, and came just three
    weeks after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's high-profile visit
    to Turkey.

    Opening the meeting with Armenia's Serzh Sarkisian, Medvedev said they
    will discuss Russian-Armenian economic ties and "regional issues"
    of mutual interest. "I have had several important trips [abroad]
    during which - I won't hide that - we also discussed the situation
    with the Turkish-Armenian settlement and some other issues," he said
    in remarks publicized by the Kremlin.

    "I have had contacts with some European colleagues. So I have something
    to tell you, something to share with you," added Medvedev.

    "Working meetings are very important," Sarkisian was reported to
    reply. "I think that this is a very good format."

    Neither the Kremlin, nor official Yerevan released any details of
    their ensuing conversation. Sarkisian's office said only that Medvedev
    agreed to visit Armenia in August.

    The office announced on Monday that Sarkisian has been invited by his
    Russian counterpart to pay a two-day "working visit" to Rostov-on-Don.

    It said the Armenian leader will attend an annual horse race organized
    by Medvedev and meet with the governor of the Rostov region as well
    as leaders of the local Armenian community. There was no word on the
    agenda of his meeting with Medvedev.

    Medvedev reportedly discussed with Turkish leaders the stalled process
    of normalizing Turkey's relations with Armenia, Russia's main regional
    ally, when he visited Ankara last month. He reiterated Moscow's stated
    support for the success of that effort strongly backed by the West.

    Medvedev also appeared to sidestep implicit Turkish calls for stronger
    Russian pressure on Armenia, which Ankara says is essential for
    achieving a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement and thereby unlocking its
    fence-mending negotiations with Yerevan. Still, he said Moscow will
    consult with the Turks in its Karabakh-related diplomacy, prompting
    concern in Armenian political circles.

    Opposition politicians and some analysts in Yerevan claim that the
    Russian leadership could pressure Armenia to make more concessions to
    Azerbaijan for the sake of Russia's increasingly warm and deep rapport
    with Turkey. Armenian leaders dismiss this speculation. They also
    rule out any Turkish involvement in Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations
    jointly mediated by the United States, Russia and France.

    Earlier this year, Sarkisian praised the Russians for publicly
    rejecting the Turkish linkage between a Karabakh settlement acceptable
    to Azerbaijan and the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. The
    EU likewise favors an unconditional establishment of diplomatic ties
    between the two neighbors and opening of the Turkish-Armenian border.

    Medvedev and Sarkisian already discussed the Turkish-Armenian
    normalization and the Karabakh dispute at their previous face-to-face
    meeting held in Moscow in late April. It came one week after
    Sarkisian's talks in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama,
    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Prime Minister Recep
    Tayyip Erdogan.

    "As close partners, as strategic allies - I've picked a more precise
    term - we must see each other often," Medvedev told Sarkisian. He
    thanked the Armenian president for attending last month's celebrations
    in Moscow of the 65th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi
    Germany.

    "I was very pleased with that," added Medvedev. "And, of course,
    that demonstrates the extent of the closeness of our states and their
    desire to develop strategic ties in the future."




    From: A. Papazian
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