January 15, 2008 - 15:55 AMT
Bryza: Armenia right to urge Turkey to drop preconditions
The U.S. policy in the Black Sea region is targeted at formation of geopolitical cooperation center in various fields, including economy, energy and regional security, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said at Wider Black Sea: Perspectives for International and Regional Security international conference.

"The U.S. tries to find common interests between Russia and Turkey and all other states of the Black Sea basin including South Caucasus. One of the most important tasks is establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and opening of the border. This can be a partial opening, encouragement of economic ties and joint economic projects," he said.

"The U.S. calls Turkey to normalize relations with Armenia without participation of a third country, Azerbaijan, and to drop preconditions. A slogan "One nation, two states" reigning in Turkey and Azerbaijan should be changed," he said and added, "Armenia is right to urge Turkey to abandon setting preconditions but it should also recognize the borders of modern Turkey."