Author: Khoyetsian Rose

AMBASSADOR OF BELARUS COMPLETES HER DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Se p 9, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan
receiving on September 10 Marina Dolgopolova, the Ambassador of Belarus
to Armenia, on the occasion of completion of her diplomatic mission,
evaluated more than five years of her activity efficient in the respect
of development of Armenian-Belarusian relations emphasizing the high
level of the two countries’ political dialogue and positive dynamics
of economic partnership.

Touching upon cooperation in various spheres, S. Sargsyan said that
Armenia and Belarus when building their relations also take into
consideration the circumstance that both of them are members of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization and are also united by
security problems.

According to M. Dolgopolova, being the first Ambassador of Belarus
to Armenia, he tried to form system relations and is content that
she managed to create good bases for further development of mutually
beneficial partnership. She expressed gratitude for assistance provided
to her during her tenure.

ARMENIANS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA INTRODUCED ARMENIA AND ARMENIANS TO THEIR FELLOW AUSTRALIANS BY A COMMEMORATION EVENT

Noyan Tapan

Se p 9, 2008

ADELAIDE, SEPTEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Last weekend, His Eminence
Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Australia and New Zealand made his biannual pastoral
visit to the Armenian Community of Adelaide. However, this was to
be markedly different from other visits with the first-ever event
of Armenian culture and identity to an Australian audience in the
capital of South Australia, which was also a commemoration event for
Australia’s first international relief effort to help survivals of the
Armenian Genocide. The event was held at the Pilgrim Uniting Church
in Adelaide. It was organised by the Armenian Cultural Association of
South Australia Inc. (ACASA) and in his welcome address, President
of the Association, Mr Gevik Abedian remarked, "Tonight is truly
a dream-come-true for most of us in our community as we had always
been thinking of such an event where we could introduce Armenia and
Armenians, effectively ourselves, to our fellow Australians."

REPLACEMENTS MADE IN TWO COMMITTEES OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Noyan Tapan

Se p 8, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Independent deputy Samvel
Balasanian replaced independent deputy Lyova Khachatrian in the
RA National Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on Inquiry into the March 1
Events. His candidacy was proposed by the committee chairman Samvel
Nikoyan. L. Khachatrain is considered a man close to the RA prosecutor
general Aghvan Hovsepian, and his replacement by another deputy was
explained by the intention not to give an occasion for speculation.

Member of the "Orinats Yerkir Party" faction Stepan Aslanian
replaced member of the same faction Artashes Avoyan in the NA
Counting Committee. The deputy powers of the latter were terminated
in connection with his appointment as the head of the staff of the RA
National Security Council. Member of the NA "Heritage" faction Zaruhi
Postanjian replaced member of the same faction Larisa Alaverian in
the above mentioned committee. NT correspondent was informed by
Z. Postanjian that the change was conditioned by the prospect of
L. Alaverdian’s absence from Armenia for some time.

FOREIGN MINISTRY FRATERNITY: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PREPARED A SUMMIT OF CSTO MEMBER STATES
by Nadezhda Sorokina

WPS Agency
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 8, 2008 Monday
Russia

CSTO WILL JOIN PROVISION OF EUROPEAN SECURITY; Foreign ministers
of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan discussed the situation that was a result of the
aggression of Georgia against South Ossetia. What was most important,
the ministers paid much attention to preparation of the collective
security council. They approved draft documents aimed at collective
participation of member states of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) in implementation of a global antiterrorist
strategy of the UN regarding more active anti-drug operations. They
also approved an important plan of consultations about issues of
foreign policy, security and defense.

Foreign ministers of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan discussed the situation that was a result
of aggression of Georgia against South Ossetia.

What was the most important, the ministers paid much attention to
preparation of the collective security council. They approved draft
documents aimed at collective participation of member states of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in implementation of a
global antiterrorist strategy of the UN regarding more active anti-drug
operations. They also approved an important plan of consultations
about the issues of foreign policy, security and defense.

Lavrov reported that CSTO member states reached an agreement on
coordinated actions on international arena in accordance with the
statement of the organization about South Ossetia adopted in Moscow.

Russia already expressed satisfaction with this statement. Lavrov said,
"it will be a common stance of the CSTO member states and henceforth
our ambassadors will act from the positions approved by the ministers."

The main breakthrough was the fact that foreign ministers of the CSTO
countries agreed to start joint work on the agreement on collective
European security. Lavrov stressed, "this is an important decision. We
will start working in a few weeks."

During the meeting in Moscow, foreign ministers of the CSTO countries
also advocated working out a new legally binding agreement by Moscow
and Washington instead of expiring the treaty on strategic offensive
armament. In their statement, the foreign ministers of CSTO countries
emphasized, "we think that such an agreement should include everything
best from the existing treaty on strategic offensive armament and
should simultaneously fix new lower levels of both strategic carriers
(intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-based ballistic
missiles, heavy bombers) and combat charges placed on them that should
be subject to checking."

The ministers also paid attention to combating drug trafficking from
Afghanistan. General Secretary of CSTO, Nikolai Bordyuzha, stated,
"we plan to pool our efforts and to work more actively on the creation
of anti-drug security belts." According to Bordyuzha, in building
anti-drug belts around Afghanistan CSTO is going to closely cooperate
with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Bordyuzha concluded, "we
are also going to develop cooperation in counteraction to synthetic
drugs that come from Europe en masse."

ABDULLAH GUL: "I HAVE TRIED TO DO MY BEST FOR AZERBAIJAN DURING MY POLITICAL ACTIVITY"

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 8 2008
Azerbaijan

"I sent my bodyguards and vehicle to Armenia through Georgia, not via
Kars in order not to hurt feelings of Azerbaijani People" Ankara. Mayis
Alizadeh-APA. Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s exclusive interview
to APA Turkey bureau

When Armenian president Sargsyan invited his Turkish counterpart
Abdulla Gul to Yerevan to watch football match, one of the main
discussions of the region’s political agenda was the thoughts about
the realization of this visit. Thus, the visit took place and Abdullah
Gul paid a visit to Yerevan. The priority for media was Gul’s first
interview about his impressions related to this one-day visit.

-You gave information to media about your visit to Armenia. What do
you want to say about your visit to Azerbaijan?

First of all I welcome all my Azerbaijani brothers. I know that
they follow this visit with great interest and I want them to feel
certain of us. I do believe in importance of being two states and one
nation and its further continuation. When we look at the world map
we see Caucasus as small place, but there are many problems in this
region. We saw conflict between Georgia and Russia a month ago. It
is impossible to keep silence, we should initiate and take serious
measures to solve problems of our region. My visit and the visit
of Prime Minister should be followed within this framework. We have
proposed Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform for this purpose
on time. Important countries of the region should take measures to
solve issues via dialogue. Our Prime Minister Erdogan visited Russia,
Georgia and Azerbaijan and discussed these issues. There was a random
chance during the world qualifying championship. Turkish and Armenian
national teams were at the same group. After this, Armenian president
invited me to Yerevan. It demands courage to say to Turkish President
to come and to watch the match together. We know that there occurs
dashnaks and other groups, which are against this issue. Why did I
receive this invitation? I believed in creation of chance to conduct
discussions to solve problems in the region.

I wanted to seize this occasion for the discussion of Nagorno Karabagh
conflict and problems between Turkey and Armenia. To tell the truth,
I was satisfied with the realization of this visit, because state
figures should measure thrice and cut once and take any decisive step
afterwards. If we freeze the problem, it will be worse and worse. Then
these frozen problems become de facto. Therefore, state figures should
conduct discussions hardily. We all look like each other in this
small land as Caucasus. The majority speaks Turkish in the region or
understands this language – one should move this potential ahead and
find solution to the problems. During my visit, I very openly talked
to president Sargsyan on these issues. I talked to him more openly
about all what I am talking to you and stressed the importance of
resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Sargsyan also supported solution to the problems in the region and
expressed satisfaction with our participation in this process. They
supported Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform, assessed it
as an opportunity for the solution to the problems in the region and
stressed the importance of conducting dialogue after the developments
in Georgia. Sargsyan stated that he had met with Ilham Aliyev and would
meet henceforth. I told Sargsyan that we should be realist. Dialogue
should be conducted to overcome of the problems. If it is not conducted
at present, it will be 30-40 years later and it will cause problems
to the future generations. I saw that Sargsyan spoke sincerely. I left
Yerevan with great pleasure. There can be those, who were against this
visit in Turkey and Azerbaijan and I respect them. I am sure that these
initiatives will achieve good results and they will also be happy. 50
million people died during World War II in Europe, but Germany and
France are closer allies at present. We should look at the future,
not only past and should open doors for the future. I will visit Baku
on Wednesday and share my opinions with President Ilham Aliyev there.

-Unlike the previous president, Sargsyan started to carry on different
policy. Kocharian declared Turkey as enemy, but Sargsyan shows himself
as pro-Western politician. Had you consulted with the West before
visiting Armenia?

I passed an independent decision. No country influenced on me in
regard to my decision. However, I am pleased to receive estimation
from several countries. Armenia has understood that it is obliged
to cooperate with neighboring countries, as well as the whole
world. Otherwise, there will not be peace in the region and Armenia
can be assessed as the country standing on the way of peace. I believe
in good assessment of this chance in the image of Sargsyan. Old policy
should be left behind. We should look forward as regional countries.

-When you were Turkish Foreign Minister and represented Turkey in the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, you always stated that
stated that you carried out reforms in Turkey not for Europe, Brussels,
Strasbourg, but for Turkic peoples. Today, western analysts stress
the importance of deepening of democratic reforms for the solution
of problems. You left a message in this direction in Armenia. Will
you also give any message in Azerbaijan in this regard?

I represented Turkey in the Council of Europe for years. I remember
when Heydar Aliyev demonstrated great decisiveness and made Azerbaijan
become the member of the Council of Europe. Today, Honorable
Ilham Aliyev continues this way. Democracy is not the process to
gain within a day. Turkey has been the member of the Council of
Europe since 1948 and one of the members, which established the
organization. As the reforms are deepened, we are demanded new
ones. Existence of democracy will require further deepening of
stability in the region and cooperation between the countries and
increase of welfare of peoples. The leadership of Azerbaijan will make
every effort for deepening of democracy in the country not depending
on my any message. I will be very satisfied with the development of
democracy. And at the same time I do believe that President Ilham
Aliyev will also be proud of this.

-Armenia’s "genocide" claims are mostly linked with pressures come
from Armenian Diasporas in the West. Will you succeed to break off
these pressures?

Diaspora should also work for the welfare of Armenia. The
Diaspora should also be glad for Armenia’s endeavors to establish
good-neighborly relations with its neighbors. I convey my best regards
and respect to Azerbaijani People through APA. Let them always feel
certain of us. We are always with Azerbaijan. The problem of Azerbaijan
is the problem of my own and there can be no doubt about it. That’s
why I am visiting Baku.

POLL: YEREVAN VISIT APPLAUDED BY MAJORITY

Today’s Zaman
o?load=detay&link=152595&bolum=100
Sept 9 2008
Turkey

A brief visit by President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan to attend a soccer
match between the Turkish and Armenian national teams was welcomed
by an overwhelming majority of Turkish society, as it was considered
a landmark step to thaw relations between the two countries, a new
opinion poll has found.

The Ankara-based MetroPOLL Strategic & Social Research Center
conducted a survey on Gul’s visit to Yerevan to learn Turks’ views
on the visit. According to the survey, 69.6 percent of those polled
found Gul’s visit to Armenia successful, a figure suggesting that Turks
are hopeful the visit may be a turning point in the relations between
Turkey and Armenia. Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan invited Gul to
watch a World Cup qualifying match between the Turkish and Armenian
national teams in Yerevan. Gul’s acceptance of the invitation raised
hopes for dialogue that could eventually restore relations between the
two estranged neighbors and help bury an almost century-old hostility.

Gul was the first Turkish president to set foot in Armenia since it
declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Though Turkey
was among the first countries to recognize Armenia’s independence,
it closed its border with the country and severed formal ties
with Yerevan after Armenia occupied the Azerbaijani territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh. But the origins of the dispute between Turkey and
Armenia go further back in history.

Armenia claims the Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million Armenians in
eastern Anatolia during World War I as part of a systematic campaign
of genocide.

The major question of the survey was whether Gul’s visit to Armenia
was successful or not. An overwhelming 69.6 percent of respondents said
the visit was successful, whereas 15 percent said it was unsuccessful
and 15.4 percent said they had no idea.

"Turkey and Armenia took a step to normalize relations after long years
of dispute. Though some political parties and politicians strongly
opposed Gul traveling to Yerevan, both the government and the president
did the best to thaw the ice between the two countries. Gul’s visit
to Armenia was met with satisfaction by the Turkish nation. To me,
this visit may be a turning point in Turkish-Armenian relations,"
said Professor Ozer Sencar, one of the administrators of the poll.

Professor Eser KarakaÅ~_, a columnist for the Star daily, said the
visit was a huge step for the settlement of problems between the
two neighbors.

"This is a significant step of goodwill. It would be great if both
countries reinforced this step with similar ones in the future. It
may not solve all problems between Turkey and Armenia but may at
least help Turkey open its border with its neighbor," he stated.

Another question directed to respondents in the poll was on the tough
stance of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and
the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) toward Gul’s visit to
Yerevan. When asked whether the CHP and the MHP were right to react
negatively to Gul’s visit, 65.6 percent of those polled said the two
opposition parties were wrong to harshly criticize the visit. Only
24.9 percent of respondents said the two parties were right to do so
and 9.5 percent said they had no idea.

Officials from the CHP and the MHP were extremely critical of the visit
to Armenia by Gul. They said a visit to Yerevan would mean alienating
Azerbaijan, which is of vital importance to Turkey in many respects.

Sencar emphasized that the Turkish nation was troubled by the CHP and
MHP’s harsh reaction against the visit. "Our people don’t deem such
reactions as democratic behavior. A considerable majority of society
is aware that these two parties strive to create an atmosphere of
chaos in the country. However, society doesn’t want to experience
any other crises," he stated.

KarakaÅ~_ agreed, adding that the dispute between Turkey and Armenia
stems from political disaccord and that the two nations are not
parties to this conflict.

"People of the two countries say at every opportunity that they
don’t have any problems with each other. It is the states which have
problems," he noted.

Sencar also stated that the Turkish nation will give the best response
to the rash behavior of the CHP and the MHP at the ballot box. "Both
of the opposition parties displayed stances indicating that they
want to maintain the crisis between Turkey and Armenia. However,
people here want to have neighborly relations with Armenia. I think
both the CHP and the MHP will suffer from their tough stance against
the normalization of relations with Armenia," he remarked.

A previous survey by MetroPOLL had revealed that the opposition
parties in Turkey continue to suffer from declining popularity with
the public. It showed that the CHP and the MHP would remain below
the election threshold should general elections be held on the poll
date. Only 9.5 percent of respondents said they would vote for the CHP,
while 6.6 percent said they would favor the MHP.

Another topic of the new poll was future relations with Armenia. In
response to a question over what kind of policy Turkey should pursue in
relations with its neighbor, 62.8 percent of those polled said Turkey
should develop diplomatic and economic relations with Armenia, whereas
25.9 percent said it should maintain the existing policies. Another
11.3 percent said they had no idea.

"Our people are tired of disputes with Armenia, which are of no
benefit to Turkey. We have had an ongoing debate with Armenia for
80 years. People don’t want events dating back to the Ottoman times
to affect their lives any longer. This is why they attach such great
importance to Gul’s visit to Yerevan," concluded Sencar.

The telephone poll was conducted Sept. 7 among a random national
sampling of 1,019 adults residing in cities, towns and villages. The
margin of error for the full poll is 2.5 percentage points, at a 95
percent confidence level.

–Boundary_(ID_MNAg1IffCYY0dP37iTASwQ)–

MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND TURKISH PRESIDENTS HELD IN YEREVAN

De Facto
08.09.08

YEREVAN, 08.09.08. DE FACTO. On RA President Serge Sargsian’s
invitation, Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in Armenia on
September 6 to watch a football match between Turkish and Armenian
teams.

According to the RA President’s Press Office, a meeting of the two
countries’ Presidents was held before the match. Armenian and Turkish
FMs attended the meeting.

Serge Sargsian expressed gratitude to his Turkish counterpart for
receiving the invitation and noted that direct contacts between
neighboring states were the only efficient way to establish relations.

In his turn, President of Turkey invited RA President to Istanbul to
watch a return match between Turkish and Armenian teams.

Presidents of Armenia and Turkey spoke of bilateral relations’
settlement, exchanged opinions over latest regional developments and
problems. Noting there were new possibilities for Armenian-Turkish
relations’ settlement they underscored political will of the two
countries’ heads to assume responsibility and set to the settlement
of existing problems, establishment of the atmosphere of peace and
confidence in the region. According to Abdullah Gul, inviting him
to Armenia, President Sargsian made the first step; his invitation
was accepted, thus making it a joint initiative, which can become an
example for the whole region.

In Serge Sargsian’s words, "we s hould strive to settle existing
problems a day earlier and not leave their heaviness with the coming
generations".

Serge Sargsian and Abdullah Gul also discussed Turkey’s initiative
concerning the establishment of Caucasian stability and security
platform.

Noting that Armenia had always welcomed a dialogue and was the
supporter of strengthening trust, security and cooperation in the
region, President Sargsian considered the Turkish initiative a step
targeted at the establishment of a favorable atmosphere in the region.

The Presidents stated the meeting was a serious impulse for further
continuation of the dialogue.

After the meeting the two countries’ Presidents continued their talk
at a working supper.

Mediamax
Sept 6 2008

TURKISH PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Yerevan, 6 September: Mediamax correspondent reported from Yerevan
"Zvartnots" Airport that the president of the Turkish Republic was met
by Foreign Minister of Armenia Edvard Nalbandyan.

Turkish president headed from the airport to the residence of the
Armenian president, where talks between Abdullah Gul and Serzh
Sargsyan will take place.

After the meeting, the presidents of the two countries will have a
joint supper, after which they will together head to Hrazdan stadium
and will follow the match between the Armenian and Turkish national
football teams in VIP lodge together.

Right after the match the Turkish president will head to the airport
and will leave the capital of Armenia.

Abdullah Gul’s visit to Yerevan is the first one in the history. There
are no diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and the land
border between the two countries was closed in 1993 according to the
decision of Ankara. Official Yerevan repeatedly spoke for
establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey without any
preconditions.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Sept 7 2008

TURKISH, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS RELATIONS, CAUCASUS

Ankara, 7 September: Turkish President Abdullah Gul returned from
Armenia to Turkey late on Saturday [6 September].

He watched a 2010 World Cup qualifying game between the national
soccer teams of Turkey and Armenia, and also held a meeting with
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who also visited Yerevan with
Gul, held a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan.

Babacan-Nalbandyan meeting was positive and productive; the target of
the both parties was to provide full normalization in relations. They
also discussed situation in Caucasus, recent developments in Georgia
and Upper Karabakh issue.

Babacan and Karabakh agreed that the two countries would meet again
during general assembly meeting of UN which will take place in New
York.

After completing his meeting, Babacan returned to Turkey.

Hürriyet, Turkey
Sept 6 2008

Turkey beats Armenia in a historic game attended by both leaders

The national teams of Armenia and Turkey came together on Saturday in
a World Cup qualifying match in Yerevan. However this game had greater
significance than regular sporting competitions given the attendance
of the presidents of both countries, who do not have any diplomatic
relations. Turkey won the match 2-0. (UPDATED)

Expectations were low for a major breakthrough in the frozen relations
between the two countries during the football diplomacy, but it was
seen as an opportunity to start taking steps toward the normalization
of relations.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has invited his Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul to watch the game together in Yerevan to mark "a new
symbolic start in the countries’ relations". Gul had accepted the
invitation.

Gul met Saturday Sargsyan at the Armenian president’s office for talks
during the Turkish president’s historical visit to the Caucasus
nation.

The two leaders said there now is a "political will" to resolve
decades of animosity, following landmark talks in Yerevan.

"I hope that this visit will create the possiblity to improve
bilateral relations," Gul was quoted by AFP as saying at a joint press
conference with Sargsyan.

Sargsyan declared there now is a "political will to decide the
questions between our countries, so that these problems are not passed
on to the next generation".

The Armenian president also said he had been invited by Gul to attend
a return football match between the two nations in Turkey next year.

"Today the president of Turkey invited me for a reciprocal visit to
Turkey to watch the next match. I think this is a good start,"
Sargsyan said.

Gul also said the two "shared opinions on how to bring stability and
cooperation to the Caucasus region" and thanked Sargsyan for welcoming
a Turkish proposal for a new regional forum in the volatile zone.

NATO member Turkey has called for the establishment of a forum to
boost cooperation in the Caucasus, involving regional countries and
Moscow, after tensions between Georgia and Russia erupted in a
military conflict last month.

Sargsyan, for his part, said he was "very pleased" to see from Turkey
"a readiness to create stability and cooperation in the region."

TURKEY WINS THE GAME The leaders went to the stadium to watch the
World Cup qualifier between Armenia and Turkey that began at 1600 GMT,
after the meeting.

Armenian fans booed and hissed as Gul took his seat at the stadium and
as the Turkish national anthem played, AFP reported.

Turkey won the match 2-0.

Tuncay Sanli scored in the 60th minute of the match to give Turkey a
1-0 lead. The second goal came from Semih Senturk in the 78. minute.

Security was tight for the two presidents, who sat together with their
delegations in a special bullet-proof area. At the final whistle the
groups exchanged handshakes and applauded as the players on the pitch
traded shirts.

LIFTING BARRIERS Before his departure for Yerevan, Gul said he hoped
his trip would not only draw the two countries together, but also
contribute to regional peace.

"It is my wish that this match will help lift the barriers dividing
two people who share a common history and will contribute to regional
friendship and peace," Gul said.

"We have noticed a month ago how disputes in the Caucasus region pose
a threat to stability and peace in the region. The war between the
Russian Federation and Georgia had an impact not only on the regional
countries but the whole globe," he said.

Gul said Sargsyan and he would have an opportunity to discuss the
developments in the region, adding his visit to Yerevan took place at
an important period.

"As you know, we developed an initiative titled ‘Caucasus Stability
and Cooperation Platform’ to facilitate permanent stability and peace
in the Caucasus. We held discussions with the prospective members of
this platform except with Armenia. During my visit to Yerevan, I will
have a chance to exchange viewpoints on this platform with the
Armenian President Sargsyan," Turkish president said.

"I wish that the match to be played today will help the lifting of
obstacles that prohibit closeness between the two peoples that share
common history and will contribute to regional friendship and peace,"
Gul said. "With these feelings and thoughts, I wish our national team
success," Gul added.

Gul was welcomed by Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian at
Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport. The airport has been decorated with
Turkish and Armenian flags.

Armenian officials have implemented tight security measures in
Yerevan. Streets around the stadium and the presidential office were
closed to traffic.

FIRST PRESIDENT VISITING ARMENIA
Gul became the first Turkish leader ever to set foot in neighboring
Armenia.

Turkey is among the first countries that recognized Armenia when it
declared its independency in the early 1990s.

However there is no diplomatic relations between two countries, as
Armenia presses the international community to admit the so-called
"genocide" claims instead of accepting Turkey’s call to investigate
the allegations, and its invasion of 20 percent of Azerbaijani
territory despite U.N. Security Council resolutions on the issue.

Turkey hopes an enhancement of mutual relations would eventually help
to bring an end to the so-called genocide claims with the
establishment of a commission to investigate the true history and the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In 2005, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan took a tentative first
step towards resolving the thorny genocide issue by proposing that a
joint commission of historians launch an investigation and publish
their conclusions.

The proposal was rejected by Yerevan and expectations are high in
Turkey that the warming relations would help Armenia to accept this
proposal.

Armenia, with the backing of the Diaspora, claims up to 1.5 million of
their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in 1915. Turkey
rejects the claims, saying that 300,000 Armenians along with at least
as many Turks died in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took up
arms for independence in eastern Anatolia.