WALL STREET JOURNAL: DEAL ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER OPENING MAY BE SI

[MosJan]

WALL STREET JOURNAL: DEAL ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER OPENING MAY BE SIGNED APRIL 16

• http://www.armtown.com/img/photo/pan_en_30039.jpgTurkey and Armenia could soon announce a deal aimed at reopening their border and restoring relations, according to diplomats, a move that could help stabilize a region that's increasingly important as a transit route for oil and gas, the Wall Street Journal reported quoting diplomatic sources in Brussels. The timing of the deal is being choreographed with the schedule of U.S. President Barack Obama, who visits Turkey next week, these people say. The Turkish and Armenian governments have agreed on terms to open formal talks in three areas: opening and fixing borders, restoring diplomatic relations and setting up commissions to look at disputes, including one on the tense history between the two nations, according to the diplomats, all of whom declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the talks. Normalizing relations between Turkey and Armenia would "create a new and positive dynamic" in relations across the region, "as well as in developing the economic and transport links we have been pursuing ever since the collapse of the former Soviet Union," said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew J. Bryza, the State Department's point man in the Caucasus. Mr. Bryza travels to Azerbaijan Thursday to discuss how a Turkish-Armenian agreement could help revive efforts for a settlement on Nagorno Karabakh. Analysts say Turkey's government hopes progress in reviving its relations with Armenia could prompt the White House not to recognize the killings as Genocide and to block the Congressional resolution. If the U.S. proceeds with the genocide resolution, "I cannot imagine any Turkish government opening the Armenian border," said Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, director of the Ankara office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a think tank. A Senior Turkish foreign-policy official said the U.S. is trying to facilitate the agreement with Armenia. Turkish and Armenian officials declined to comment on the status of their talks. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said on Turkish television last week he would discuss Nagorno Karabakh, the Armenian Genocide and relations between Russia and Georgia with the U.S. President, among other issues. Mr. Obama's decision to make Turkey the final, two-day stop on his European tour has been welcomed in Ankara as a sign of the country's strategic importance. One date under discussion for signing the deal with Armenia, diplomats say, is April 16. But Mr. Unluhisarcikli said he believes Turkey and Armenia won't be ready to sign the deal before April 24, and Turkey instead will "signal" its commitment to reopen the borders in the hope that will be enough for Washington.

[MosJan]

ARMENIAN TURKOLOGIST PRECLUDES THE POSSIBILITY OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER OPENING ON APR. 16

• http://www.armtown.com/img/photo/pan_en_30050.jpgPossibility of Turkish-Armenian border opening on Apr. 16 and establishment of diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Ankara on Apr. 16 is almost unlikely. Turkey will not risk this step, especially before Apr. 24, an Armenian turkologist Artak Shakaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter at a news conference in Yerevan. “Armenian-Turkish relations is a high level diplomatic game. US President is visiting Ankara to discuss possibilities of reestablishment of relations between Washington and Tehran, Turkish –Russian ties and withdrawal of American troops from Iraq,” Artak Shakaryan noted. According to the Armenian turkologist, both Russia and US might benefit from intensification of Armenian-Turkish ties, so President Obama will not use the word Genocide in his address to Armenian Diaspora. ''Armenian Genocide recognition allows USA to leverage its influence on Ankara. I believe, Obama will not recognize the Genocide in his address, but, in exchange, will demand Ankara to mitigate its policy towards Yerevan. Upon which, Ali Babacan, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs will arrive in Yerevan to demonstrate Turkey's warmer position towards Armenia,'' Artak Shakaryan stated. Wall Street Journal, citing a diplomatic source in Brussels, circulated information on possibility of Turkish –Armenian border opening and establishment of diplomatic relations on Apr. 16. Neither side provided official comments on the assertion above.

[MosJan]

EXPERT SAYS ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER TO BE HALF OPENED

 

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We should bare in mind that Armenian-Turkish relations does not depend either on Armenia or on Turkey. We witness a diplomatic game coming from the highest levels. Obama is going to pay a visit to Turkey not to solve Armenian-Turkish relations but to make some other agreements on other issues, said expert in Turkish studies Artak Shakaryan in a press conference. I think that Armenian-Turkish relations seem to be improving because they interest both the USA and Russia, he said. According to the expert the Armenian-Turkish border will not be completely opened, it will be a limited opening.

[hyethga]

Yes, we must not forget about the West's insatiable thirst for natural resources and money, human rights and justice be damned.

[MosJan]

GEORGIA WORRIED ABOUT POSSIBLE OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

 

Possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will affect Georgia, which has served as a transit for Armenian cargo so far, a Georgian official said. “Opening of the border is a positive phenomenon of itself. However, establishment of direct trade relations between Armenia and Turkey will inflict losses on our country,” said Jemal Inaishvili, chairman of the Georgian chamber of commerce. “The flow of cargo destined for Turkey will decrease. Besides, the freight turnover in Poti and Batumi ports will be cut,” he said.

[MosJan]

Abdullah Gul denied information about Armenian-Turkish border opening on Apr. 16 03.04.2009 17:40 GMT+04:00 http://www.panarmenian.net/news/images/ico_print.gif http://www.panarmenian.net/news/images/ico_mail.gif /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul denied information about Armenian-Turkish border opening in nearest future.

 

“Media-circulated information on Turkey’s opening its border with Armenia is untrue,” the President stated before his departure to Germany to participate in NATO Jubilee Summit.

According to Abdullah Gul, Turkey aims to establish peace and stability in Caucasus and encourages friendly relations with all the states in the region, CNN Turk reported.

 

Wall Street Journal, citing a diplomatic source in Brussels, circulated information on possibility of Turkish-Armenian border opening and establishment of diplomatic relations on Apr. 16.