"Armenia to Establish Diplomatic Relations with Turkey and to Open Frontiers
30.12.2006
Turkey has received proposal from Armenian government, being out of important projects realized in the region, on establishing of diplomatic relations and opening of frontiers.
Letter of Defense Minister of Armenia, Serge Sarkisyan, published in “The Wall Street Journal” reads: “We intend to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey not bringing up genocide as principal condition”. Saying that “we want to look at the future”, Armenian Minister hoped that Turkey’s talks with European Union opens such opportunity for Yerevan. At the same time, he stressed that remaining the issue of the so-called “genocide” in agenda is necessary from the point of view of memory on past and prevention of such crimes against humanity. Serge Sarkisyan also said: in case Turkey opens its frontiers Armenia will be closer to Europe from geopolitical point of view, and we don’t want to be enemies with Turkey forever.
Political observers of Turkey said that this proposal is backed by Armenian lobby of America and Europe, and basic proposal is that Armenians want to exploit railway Kars-Akhalkalaki-Gumru."
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