Can EU contribute to normalization of Armenia-Turkey relationsJanuary 21, 2008 - 16:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs should brisk up diplomatic steps toward Turkey, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the RA Academy of Sciences, Dr Ruben Safrastyan told a news conference in Yerevan."Armenia should establish relations with Turkey without preconditions. At the same time, recognition of the Armenian Genocide is one of priority tasks. However, we should not forget that Turkey represents a menace to Armenia's national security and the Armenian diplomacy should work for its neutralization," he said. "The Armenian-Turkish relations can be normalized with assistance of a third party, the European Union, for example," he said. "The third party should create a basis for meetings of the Armenian and Turkish publics. I am not afraid of a dialogue, since we all know the truth. The Turkish population, on the contrary, is being misled by the government," Dr Safrastyan said, Novosti Armenia reports. Armenia and Turkey have no diplomatic relations. The border was closed in 1993 over Ankara's position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |