Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian held five hours of talks with the country’s political leaders on Thursday as he sought to build support for the delicate aim of establishing diplomatic ties with Turkey.
Speaking at the opening of the closed-door talks, Sarkisian said the meeting with members of 52 political parties was aimed at hearing all perspectives on the controversial issue.
“I have heard various opinions in detail, I have heard positive, encouraging statements, and I have heard criticisms and concerns as well,” Sarkisian said.
“Obviously I also see risks and have concerns. But in order to assess the risks properly… we must bring all of our observations together,” he said.
“I see the end of this process only as providing the minimum environment to begin a dialogue with Turkey,” he said.
Armenia and Turkey announced last month they had agreed a framework to establish diplomatic ties and reopen their border after decades of hostility, in what was internationally hailed as a major breakthrough.
The two countries said they would hold internal political consultations for six weeks before submitting to their parliaments two protocols on establishing diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations.
The deal has come under fire from opposition groups in both countries, which accuse their governments of making concessions.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with ally Azerbaijan over Yerevan’s backing of ethnic Armenian separatists in the breakaway Nagorny Karabakh region.
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