No progress fixed in Armenia-Turkey relations in 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net - There was no progress fixed in the Armenia-Turkey relations due to Ankara's preconditions, says the annual report issued by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



The report says, in part, "Armenia stands for normalization of relations without preconditions via talks. Meanwhile Turkey together with Azerbaijan went on with its unconstructive policy targeted at Armenia's isolation from regional cooperation programs..



Armenia-Turkey bilateral contacts took place mostly in the framewotk of international organizations.



The murder of Agos editor Hrant Dink on 19 January 2007 caused a wave of protest in Turkey, what created a kind of favorable atmosphere for a breakthrough in the Armenian-Turkish relations. RA Deputy FM Arman Kirakossian attended Mr Dink's funeral. However, Turkish authorities failed to demonstrate political will for achieving progress in relations.



In March, an Armenian delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Gagik Gyurjian attended the opening ceremony of reconstructed Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar island.



Turkish political and public groups kept on discussing the Armenian Genocide issue, specifically after adoption of the H.Res.106 by the U.S. congressional panel.



As to relations with Baku, they did not exceed the framework of the Karabakh talks under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group. Some contacts took place within international organizations as well as at level of NGOs and media."