European Union urges Turkey to open its border with ArmeniaNovember 4, 2006 - 17:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Its upcoming progress report on Turkey, the European Union urges Turkey to open its border with Armenia, stressing that this would be an important step forward in the establishment of good neighborly relations between the two countries and would boost trade relations. According to the draft progress report obtained by The New Anatolian before the text is released by the EU next Wednesday, while urging Turkey to open its border with Armenia, the EU cites the lack of significant developments in relations between Turkey and Armenia since the official exchange of letters between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President Robert Kocharian in April 2005. However the EU notes a closer alignment of Turkey's official position with EU positions in relation with the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. "Turkey has reiterated its support for the European Neighborhood Policy. Turkey participates in the regional initiative GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) with observer status. Turkey followed closely the elections in Azerbaijan. It aligned itself with the EU Presidency statement on the elections in Azerbaijan on 10 November 2005," said the report, reported ABHABER. Top stories 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |