While talking to Armenian journalists in Helsinki, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza announced that despite the existence of some differences of opinion, Armenia and Turkey are close to signing an agreement on the establishment of diplomatic relations. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried was more reserved in his words. He said, "We have always supported the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations. We do so now."
On December 4, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey met for the fourth time since the six-hour visit of Turkish president Abdullah Gul to Yerevan on September 6. The meeting, in Helsinki, was in conjunction with the annual meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council. Tigran Balayan, spokesperson for Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the topic of negotiation remains the search for finding a way of normalizing Armenian and Turkish relations.
During his speech at the OSCE Ministers Council, Armenian foreign minister, Edward Nalbandian, spoke at length about Armenian-Turkish relations. He said:
"There is one more long-standing problem which needs a wise approach and political courage to be resolved." The normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will contribute greatly to the establishment of stability and security in the whole region, Nalbandian said. "The bold steps taken by the presidents of Armenia and Turkey demonstrate political will and a readiness to move forward. Of course, no one expects miracles, and we were pragmatic enough not to think that all problems would be solved overnight. However, the important thing is to achieve a tangible result and not to negotiate for the sake of negotiations. We are looking for establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of borders without any precondition, and we expect the same approach from the Turkish side. Parties continue to work and negotiate, and I hope that together we will achieve what I believe is our common goal: to normalize our relations and bring security and stability to our region."
The foreign ministers of several countries referred to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations during their speeches in Helsinki. Babacan said, "Turkey continues to contribute to the peace process through its multiple and mutually complementary initiatives. Respect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must constitute the bedrock of any settlement."
German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in his speech touched upon the Yerevan-Ankara thaw, saying "the steps Turkey and Armenia have taken towards each other deserve our full support."
In Istanbul on November 24, Mr. Nalbandian said that he expected normalization of relations with Turkey "very soon." It "could be done in a quick way, because I do not see any major obstacles," said the Armenian foreign minister. Armenia holds the rotating presidency of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization, and it was in this capacity that Armenian Foreign Minister Nalbandian was in Istanbul. Following the BSEC meeting, Nalbandian met his Turkish counterpart.
Earlier Mr. Nalbandian and Mr. Babacan met in Yerevan the same day Mr. Gul was in Yerevan and then again late in September in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
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