Iran can mediate for reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki spoke by phone to his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian during his recent visit to Ankara, hailing positive developments between Ankara and Yerevan.



Iranian news agency IRNA said Iran, as a powerful and stable country in the region, can bring about reconciliation between estranged neighbors Turkey and Armenia.



The report of the telephone conversation between Mottaki and Nalbandian indicates that a series of positive developments between Turkey and Armenia may also be on the agenda.



In his phone conversation with Nalbandian, Mottaki expressed hope that positive developments in Armenia-Turkey relations would help strengthen regional peace and friendship, according to the IRNA.



In a further sign of readiness to normalize ties, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan proposed "a fresh start" in relations with Turkey in an article published in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month. Sargsyan also invited Gul to a World Cup qualifying match between Armenian and Turkish teams in September. Officials say the invitation is still under consideration and that the president will decide according to developments.



As Azerbaijan's ally, Turkey severed diplomatic relations with Armenia in 1993 over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.



Ankara also denies claims that Armenians were subjected to genocide during World War I and says "both Armenians and Turks died in civil strife that erupted after Anatolian Armenians took up arms against the Ottoman state in search of independence," Today's Zaman reports.