U.S. Hails Armenian-Turkish Thaw

U.S. HAILS ARMENIAN-TURKISH THAW

ARKA
Feb 19, 2009

YEREVAN, February 19. /ARKA/. The United States hails the thaw between
Armenia and Turkey, U.S. Deputy Ambassador to Armenia Stephen Banks
said on Wednesday.

The U.S. government has vowed staunch support to both countries,
and their leaders are well aware of that, according to Banks.

The Turkish president’s visit to Armenia last September testifies
to the recent thaw in Armenia-Turkey relations, the U.S. Deputy
Ambassador said, expressing a hope the Armenian and Turkish leaders
would put bilateral relations on a steady course.

No diplomatic relations exist between Armenia and Turkey, and the
Armenian-Turkish border has been closed since 1993 initiated by
official Ankara.

Official Yerevan says it is ready to establish relations with
Turkey without any preconditions. But Turkey puts preconditions for
establishing bilateral relations, particularly requests Armenia to give
up the policy of international recognition of the Armenian genocide
of 1915 when about one and a half million Armenians were slaughtered.

The Armenian-Turkish relations began to thaw last year, when Turkish
President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6 to watch
Armenia vs. Turkey World Cup qualifier.