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ANKARA: Armenia Hopeful for Opening of Border, but Gives No Sign

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  • ANKARA: Armenia Hopeful for Opening of Border, but Gives No Sign

    Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
    May 14 2005


    Armenia Hopeful for Opening of Turkish Border, but Gives No Sign


    Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik Margaryan on Friday expressed his
    hope that the Turkish-Armenian border will be opened by the end of
    the year.

    Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan, Margaryan described the
    current situation between Turkey and Armenia as `the most suitable
    period to open the border between the two countries.' `Everything
    should be done to establish diplomatic relations and open the border
    between Turkey and Armenia by the end of the year,' he said.

    EU is more pessimistic

    The European Union, on the other hand, doesn't share the Armenian
    prime minister's optimism over the potential opening of their border
    with Turkey.

    EU special representative for the SouthCaucasus Heikki Talvitie said
    he doesn't expect the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border unless
    progress is first made to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. 20
    percent of Azerbaijan is under Armenian occupation. Armenia does not
    recognise Turkey's, georgia's and Azerbaijan's borders.

    Talvitie said that he's seen some progress in the Armenian
    government's policies, during a press conference in Baku, Azerbaijan
    on Friday.

    On a recent statement by Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian
    about the need `to give some concessions on the Armenian side,'
    Talvitie said, `The Armenian defense minister's statement means that
    Armenia may return some of the occupied territories to Azerbaijan. I
    think that this is the first reference made by the Armenians about
    giving back some territories,' Talvitie said.

    He went on to say that the EU welcomes the upcoming meeting of the
    Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Warsaw next week at a summit
    meeting of the Council of Europe.

    The Armenian authorities have sent the first signals to Ankara
    regarding a withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh, which is one of the
    precondition for the start of talks and normal diplomatic relations
    between Armenia and Turkey.

    The latest information on the Armenian move was conveyed to Ankara
    earlier this week by Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
    during a short visit to Turkey. Speaking of his meeting with the
    Armenian authorities, Azimov explained the formula under which the
    Armenian withdrawal from seven regions of Nagorno-Karabakh would take
    place.

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President
    Robert Kocharian also are expected to meet in Warsaw. Turkish PM had
    called the Armenian side to establish a joint commission to discuss
    historical disputes, yet Armenia rejected the offer. Armenia supports
    a great international campaign to force Turkey to accept Armenian
    allegations. Ankara says Yerevan's anti-Turkish efforts undermine a
    possible friendship in the region.
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