ARMENIA AND Turkey have moved closer to burying their almost century-long feud over the alleged genocide of Armenians during the Ottoman empire’s twilight years, by agreeing a US- brokered deal to establish diplomatic relations.
The Turkish foreign ministry announced yesterday that both sides had agreed a “road map” that would lead to the “normalisation” of bilateral ties.
The move represents the most significant progress towards a thaw between Ankara and Yerevan for almost 20 years. The deal does not include recognition from the Turks of genocide against Armenia in 1915, events commemorated every year in Armenia on this day. But it reflects a willingness to talk without preconditions.
“Turkey and Armenia, together with Switzerland as mediator, have been working intensively with a view to normalising their bilateral relations,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said. “The two parties have achieved tangible progress and mutual understanding in this process. They have agreed on a comprehensive framework.”
The plan promotes peace, security and stability in the southern Caucasus, the ministry said. Foreign ministers from both states are to meet soon in Switzerland.
The breakthrough follows the visit to Turkey by US president Barack Obama, and what one analyst called “under the carpet” US pressure on Yerevan and Ankara to resolve differences. Mr Obama is due to address the issue of the genocide today in a message to the Armenian diaspora in the US.
Yesterday’s rapprochement follows a pivotal meeting between Armenia and Turkey’s football teams in a World Cup qualifying match last September, when Turkish president Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan to watch the game – the first visit to Armenia by a modern Turkish head of state.
Yesterday one analyst said most of the obstacles towards reaching a deal now lay on the Turkish side.
"The whole Armenian elite supports this process. The way to do it is to depoliticise the genocide problem," said Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan. "That doesn't mean forget it. But there is no reason for us to close our borders or not have foreign embassies." – ( Guardianservice)