August 25, 2011 - 18:53 AMT
WikiLeaks: U.S. doesn't support Turkey's policy of preconditions towards Armenia

WikiLeaks has published a classified cable sent in 2010 by then-ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey.

The cable says that “the signing of the Protocols to reestablish Turkish-Armenian relations and open the common border in Zurich on October 10 was a landmark for the region.”

However, the cable says “neither Turkey nor Armenia have taken steps toward ratification.” “The government of Turkey argues that progress toward withdrawal of Armenian forces from the provinces surrounding Nagorno Karabakh is a pre-condition,” it says.

“This was not/not part of the agreement, and not a position the U.S. supports,” Jeffrey notes.

He notes that future relations will nevertheless still be heavily linked to the 1915 Armenian Genocide issue.

“Any U.S. determination of the events of 1915 as "genocide" would set off a political firestorm in Turkey, and the effect on our bilateral relationship - including political, military, and commercial aspects - would be devastating,” the cable says.

-lm-

WikiLeaks: U.S. doesn't support Turkey's policy of preconditions towards Armenia