Armenian foreign minister speaks at BSEC meeting in Istanbul

BSEC

-- I am confident of the organization having a special responsibility to develop economic development in the wider Black Sea area.

 

-- I think that when we created this organization we were twice less presence, not only member states, but also observers and other participants. Now we have more than 25 countries present for this meeting. This is another proof that the organization is functioning.

 

-- All countries understand that they have to join efforts to respond to this global crisis, this challenge; we as the BSEC could join efforts not only as an organization, and as member states.

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-- Cooperation could more effective. At the same time the economic cooperation could be boosted to resolve all problems between countries.

 

RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

-- I am in Istanbul as chairman of BSEC. It is a pleasure for me to respond invitation of my colleagues. We will continue negotiations concerning normalizations of our bilateral relations. Active dialogue started early September when Gul came to watch the soccer match to Armenia.

 

-- We will continue this negotiations started early September, I don’t see any serious obstacle in normalizing the relations.

 

-- Normalizing relations and opening of the common border without any preconditions, Armenia is ready to do that and we wait for Turkey to do the same.

 

-- It is interest of Armenia to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey. There are many countries in war. They have diplomatic relations; they are open to each other.

 

-- I don’t see any major obstacles that could go to the normalization. All establishment of diplomatic relations must be prepared properly. This is not a problem, this is the question of our relations.

 

-- Our position is very clear. My optimism coming from the negotiations with the Turkish side; we started negotiations immediately after the (visit of the) president of Turkey in September. We had very constructive, very interesting, very sincere and frank discussions.

 

-- For the direct flights. I came directly from Yerevan. So if THY will decide to have own direct flights to Armenia, why not? It would be very good in boosting business and tourism between two countries.

 

-- We must do it by our own decisions. The U.S. is very supportive for the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations and we hope this road would continue.

 

-- Yes President Gul invited our president. Our president accepted this invitation and I hope he will be here in October 2009 for Turkey-Armenia match.

 

NAGORNO-KARABAKH

-- Meeting held in the beginning of November in Moscow is not the first meeting between the presidents. The first one was in June in St. Petersburg. This November meeting was very constructive and positive. Not from the talks but in the point of view of declaration signed. First time there was a document signed by president of Azerbaijan and Armenia saying Nagorno-Karabakh must be solved peacefully and diplomatic way.

 

-- The settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh should be guaranteed by international communities. This is not a peace agreement but principles are important. First time these countries signed in the level of presidents.

 

-- After that meeting three co-chairs visited the region. The basis of the negotiations are the proposals made by the three co-chairs of Minsk Group. We hope the Moscow meeting would accelerate the negotiations between the parties through solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.