Published since 07.2002
Published on July 11, 2008
FRESH START?: SARGSYAN MAKES MORE OVERTURES TO TURKEY RISKING DOMESTIC BACKLASH
- President Serzh Sargsyan risked renewed criticism from hardliners at home as he proposed a “fresh start” in Armenian-Turkish relations Wednesday. In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal (“We Are Ready to Talk to Turkey”, July 9) Sargsyan reviews the history of post-independent Armenia’s [lack of] relations with its western neighbor Turkey and writes: “The time has come for a fresh effort to break this deadlock, a situation that helps no one and hurts many. As president of Armenia, I take this opportunity to propose a fresh start – a new phase of dialogue with the government and people of Turkey, with the goal of normalizing relations and opening our common border.” Sargsyan’s opinion in the renowned publication came only weeks after his statement in which he in principle agreed to the Turkish proposal to set up a panel of historians to review historical facts regarding the genocide -- a move that received a negative reaction from the Armenian opposition and at least one pro-government party known for its hard line on relations with Turkey. Mentioning in his op-ed that during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Turkey closed its border with Armenia as an expression of ethnic solidarity with Turkic Azerbaijan, Sargsyan adds that “the regrettable result is that for almost 15 years, the geopolitically vital border between Armenia and Turkey has become a barrier to diplomatic and economic cooperation.” “And the Armenian people are not the only ones who have suffered from these restrictions and detours. All countries in the region, and the broader community of European nations, pay a high cost for these unnatural barriers to commerce, progress and international cooperation,” the Armenian leader underscores, calling for normal political and economic relations between the two countries. “Establishing normal political relations would enable us to create a commission to comprehensively discuss all of the complex issues affecting Armenia and Turkey. We cannot expect tangible progress without such structured relations. Only through them can we create an effective dialogue touching upon even the most contentious historical issues,” said Sargsyan repeating his invitation to Turkish President Abdullah Gul to visit Yerevan “to enjoy together” an upcoming World Cup qualifier between the two countries’ football teams on September 6. While it is yet unclear whether Gul will accept the invitation, which has become a subject of wide coverage and discourse in both local and international media, the acceptance of the proposal, according to Sargsyan, “will announce a new symbolic start in our relations.” “There may be possible political obstacles on both sides along the way. However, we must have the courage and the foresight to act now,” says Sargsyan. “Armenia and Turkey need not and should not be permanent rivals...” “And here comes the invitation. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has invited President Gul to the Armenia-Turkey football match,” writes the Turkish Hurriyet daily, predicting that Gul will accept the invitation and that regardless of the score of the game, “peace will win.”
- Marianna Grigoryan
Discussion
ARSHAK-10 wrote:
Cooperation we understand. But at what and who's cost... or only the Turks put the rules and conditions of the GAME... At least Kars and Ardahan issue must come on table........At least....
132 days before | 
Headlines for July 11, 2008
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Armenia’s Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan, who became a target of scathing criticism after his late-April ad hoc report on the post-election violence, recently made a formal request to National Security Service ...FRESH START?: SARGSYAN MAKES MORE OVERTURES TO TURKEY RISKING DOMESTIC BACKLASH
Marianna Grigoryan 1President Serzh Sargsyan risked renewed criticism from hardliners at home as he proposed a “fresh start” in Armenian-Turkish relations Wednesday. In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal (“We ...REEL SUCCESS: GOLDEN APRICOT GROWS TO FIFTH YEAR FOR FILM FANS
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Armenia’s political opposition is continuing a sit-in launched last Friday on Northern Avenue – the scene of daily political strolls of the opposition. The ‘strolls’ in Northern Avenue began after the ...SELF-WILLED SUCCESSOR?: EX-LEADER HIGHLIGHTS DIFFERENCES WITH SARGSYAN OVER LTP, “FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY”
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Armenia’s retired president this week has indicated disagreement with his successor over at least two issues in a move clearly aimed at disproving the lingering claims of some opposition critics that ...
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Today in Armenian history- 1706 First publication of the "Harsmavoork" periodical in Grigor Marzovantsi's publishing house (Constantinople).
- 1886 Birth of Missak Metsarents (poet). He died in 1908.
- 1904 The Mossoon and Zor battles took place under the leadership of Gayl Vahan and Mihran.
- 1905 After the defeat of Russian forces in the Russo - Japanese War, the Tsar proclaimed an edict on the confiscation of the Etshmiadsin church estates.
- 1906 Death of Heinrich Geltser, German armenologist. He was born in 1847.
- 1906 Death of the German armenologist Heinrich Helzer. He was born in 1847.
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