EU hopes for revival of Yerevan-Ankara normalization process

Interfax, Russia
April 29 2011

EU hopes for revival of Yerevan-Ankara normalization process

YEREVAN. April 29

EU hopes for revival of Yerevan-Ankara normalization process
The European Union regrets that Armenia and Turkey have not yet been
able to normalize their relations.

It is sad that the sides have not been able to reach an agreement on
the final steps and to put the finishing touches to their important
accords, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy
Stefan Fuele said at a joint news conference with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian in Yerevan.

Fuele said he hoped that this topic would remain on the bilateral
agenda, and the process would be revived when the situation became
more favorable.

Turkey acts in defiance of the international community as it continues
putting forward preconditions to Armenia, Nalbandian said.

“Turkey does not respect its own obligations and the opinion of the
international community, which favors the ratification of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols without preconditions. What can it [Turkey]
achieve by pursuing such an approach? I do not think that Turkey will
be able to achieve much,” the Armenian minister said.

Asked about his attitude to Turkey’s accession to the EU if the border
with Armenia remains closed, Fuele said that apart from 35 mandatory
technical requirements, a candidate country ought to have good
relations with its neighbors.

The EU commissioner said he hoped that Turkey would not be an exception.

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From: A. Papazian