Published since 02/04/2000
Published on July 17, 2008
BABACAN: TURKEY IS A ‘DOOR OF LIFE’ FOR ARMENIA
- Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey has taken unilateral steps to normalize bilateral ties with neighboring Armenia and the recent offer by Yerevan to the Turkish president to watch a football match was a result of Ankara’s efforts. In an interview with the private NTV television, Babacan said Turkey always favored dialogue with Yerevan as communicated to Armenian officials in letters sent to them. President Abdullah Gul sent a letter to Armenian President-elect Serzh Sargsyan after the elections, expressing the wish for the normalization of relations. Sargsyan recently invited Gul to visit Yerevan for a football match in September. Turkey and Armenia will play each other in a qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa. Babacan said the Turkish side is still evaluating the offer. He emphasized that Turkey adopted the policy of “zero problems” with its neighbors, and that because Armenia is a landlocked country it needs Turkey to open up to the world. Although the borders are closed with Yerevan, trade is ongoing through indirect routes, he noted. “Turkey is a door of life for Armenia,” said Babacan, emphasizing that the Armenian government should do its part for better ties. “Armenia is to decide: should the problems continue or should we open a new chapter in relations,” said Babacan. Asked how a possible passage of a genocide resolution in the U.S. Congress will affect ties with Washington, Babacan said such a development would seriously harm relations. He highlighted that “the past is the job of historians while politicians should look to the future.” In a recent visit to the United States last month, Babacan held talks with the political advisors of the two U.S. presidential hopefuls, John McCain and Barack Obama. Babacan said he explained to both of them “the Turkish stance on the 1915 killings and told them Ankara’s proposal to set up a joint commission of independent academics to study the allegations was still on the table.” Babacan stood behind his recent remarks in a speech at the European parliament that the Muslim majority in Turkey, not the non-Muslims, were having problems in observing their religion. “I am behind what I said. There are problems regarding freedoms in Turkey. The categorical rejection of these problems means ignoring the facts about Turkey,” he added. Babacan attended a dinner Monday, the first day when Turkey’s ambassadors from all over the world started detailed foreign policy talks in Ankara. Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin said relations with the EU, United States, Latin American countries, Russia and Africa were discussed on the first day, the Turkish Daily News reports.
Headlines for July 17, 2008
RA FM: AZERBAIJAN’S STATEMENTS ABOUT ARMENIA IMPLY UNDISGUISED TERRITORIAL CLAIMS
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Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met in Washington with U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Matthew Bryza to focus on the negotiation process and possibility of a new ministerial ...NALBANDIAN, FRIED DISCUSS NORMALIZATION OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
Currently on a working visit in Washington, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. The officials discussed ...U.S. HOUSE STATE-FOREIGN OPERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE MAINTAINED PARITY IN MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
An amendment championed by Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) to cut all military aid to Azerbaijan due to their escalating threats of war against Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia was defeated ...FM NALBANDIAN MEETS WITH LEADERS OF ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN U.S.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with leaders of Armenian organizations in the U.S. The Minister briefed on the projects to be launched by the state committee for ties with Diaspora and ...FRANCE WELCOMES ARMENIA’S PROPOSALS TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY
The Armenian-Turkish relations are important for France. French leaders discuss the issue with their Turkish counterparts, France’s Ambassador to Armenia Serge Smessov said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. ...AMB. SMESSOV: FRANCE HAS INITIAL FOUR PRIORITIES FOR SIX-MONTH EU PRESIDENCY
France’s initial four priorities for the six-month Presidency - energy and climate change, immigration, defense, and a review of the EU’s farm policy. A major "energy-climate package" will be presented ...BABACAN: TURKEY IS A ‘DOOR OF LIFE’ FOR ARMENIA
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey has taken unilateral steps to normalize bilateral ties with neighboring Armenia and the recent offer by Yerevan to the Turkish president to watch a football ...FRANCE WELCOMES RESUMPTION OF KARABAKH TALKS
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs demonstrated a constructive approach in a search for compromise that could serve as a basis for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution, France’s Ambassador to Armenia ...EAFJD: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION IS TURKEY’S MORAL, LEGAL AND POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY
Recently elected Armenian President Serge Sargyan made overtures to his counterpart in the Turkish Government this week, inviting President Abdullah Gul to join him in Armenia’s capital Yerevan to watch ...FRANCE: EU-TURKEY TALKS WON’T RESULT IN MEMBERSHIP
France gave green light to continuation of the EU-Turkey talks but we rule out that these talks will result in membership, France’s Ambassador to Armenia Serge Smessov said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. ...FRANCE HAS NOT MADE FINAL DECISION ON EASTERN PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE YET
France has not made a final decision on the Eastern Partnership initiative yet, France’s Ambassador to Armenia Serge Smessov said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. “The Action Plan opens wide possibilities ...LIST OF PROGRAMS MEANT TO ASSIST ARMENIA IN ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION NOT CONFIRMED YET
Presently, the programs within the ENP can be divided into two categories – traditional technical assistance and joint programs that will start this autumn, France’s Ambassador to Armenia Serge Smessov ...
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Today in Armenian history- 1844 The National Assembly, consisting of 16 nobles and 14 commoners is created in Constantinople.
- 1862 Michael Nalbandian is arrested and locked up in the Petropavlov prison.
- 1959 President Voroshilov (of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR) awards the Order of Lenin to the Armenian SSR.
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