European Forum

Turkey and Armenia ready to enhance relations

Turkey and its neighbour Armenia have moved closer to establishing diplomatic ties after decades of bitter mistrust on both sides. They are to hold six weeks of domestic political consultations on the move after which their Parliaments will vote on it, their foreign ministries announced late on 31 August. The agreement was reached through the mediation of Switzerland.

A roadmap for the normalisation of the relationship between the two countries was agreed already in April. The foreign ministries said Turkey and Armenia had agreed to start internal discussions on two protocols: one on establishing diplomatic relations and the other on developing bilateral ties. The Turkish-Armenian border will re-open within two months of the protocols coming into force, according to international news sources.

International response
The US said it welcomed the move and was ready to work with both governments to support the normalisation of ties. Also the EU has welcomed the agreement saying it "would greatly contribute to peace, security and stability throughout an important region of Europe".

Anticipation of a diplomatic breakthrough has been growing ahead of a planned visit by Armenian President Serge Sarkisian to Turkey on 14 October, during which he is due to attend a World Cup qualifying football match between the two countries. Last year, Turkish President Abdullah Gül visited Armenia to watch the match, the first Turkish President to visit the neighbouring country.

The two countries' dispute centres on the fate of Armenians under Turkish Ottoman rule nearly a century ago. Turkey has resisted widespread calls for it to recognise the mass killing of Armenians during World War I, which Armenia refer to as ‘genocide’. Relations have also been complicated since 1994 by Turkish support for Azerbaijan in its armed conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkish border with Armenia has been closed since then. In the last few years, the two countries have been trying to establish diplomatic ties.


Sources: Hurriyet daily; BBC; Reuters