Philip Crowley: U.S. hasn't changed its view on Armenia-Turkish rapprochementMarch 3, 2010 - 16:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. has supported the current process that it hopes will result in normalized relations between Turkey and Armenia, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley said during Daily Press Briefing Washington, DC, on March 2, 2010. “Within that process, as the Secretary said last week, we think that there is ample room for Turkey and Armenia to evaluate the historical facts as to what happened decades ago. So we haven't changed our view, but we continue to engage at a high level with both countries and to encourage them - having worked to reach the agreement in Switzerland last year to see it implemented on both sides,” he said. “The advancement of normalized relations between Armenia and Turkey is in the interest of both countries. It's in the interest of the region as well. We cannot afford to look at this in zero sum terms, that somehow scoring a point on one side is a loss for the other. So I would just say that we continue our high-level - we've had intensive conversations at high levels. The Secretary has been directly involved extensively and repeatedly. Deputy Secretary Steinberg, Under Secretary Burns, Assistant Secretary Phil Gordon have all been directly engaged with the leadership in Turkey and Armenia. The Secretary had a meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan in Doha talking about this issue. So we continue to encourage both sides. We understand how difficult this is, how emotional this is. There's not a common understanding of what happened 90 years ago. But we value the courageous steps that both leaders have taken, and we just continue to encourage both countries to move forward and not look backward,” Mr. Crowley said. 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 | Atom Egoyan film coming to Golden Apricot Yerevan Festival Canadian-Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s latest film, Seven Veils, is the opening film at GAIFF 2024. Armenia denies more of Azerbaijan’s ceasefire violations Yerevan has denied statements from Baku accusing the Armenian army of violating the ceasefire on the border with Azerbaijan. Israel warns of “serious consequences” after Armenia recognizes Palestine Dmitry Gendelman said the move will have “serious long-term consequences” for Israel-Armenia relations. French envoy travels to Armenia’s Syunik French ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies visited the town of Goris in the country’s southern Syunik province. |