Yerevan, Ankara ratify timetable to open common border

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia and Turkey, guided by the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, agreed to open the common border within 2 months after the entry into force of this Protocol.



The two countries agreed to conduct regular political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries; to implement a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations; to make the best possible use of existing transport, communications and energy infrastructure and networks between the two countries, and to undertake measures in this regard; to develop the bilateral legal framework in order to foster cooperation between the two countries; to cooperate in the fields of science and education by encouraging relations between the appropriate institutions as well as promoting the exchange of specialists and students, and act with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage of both sides and launching common cultural projects; to establish consular cooperation in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 in order to provide necessary assistance and protection to the citizens of the two countries; to take concrete measures in order to develop trade, tourism and economic cooperation between the two countries; to engage in a dialogue and reinforce their cooperation on environmental issues.



They agreed on the establishment of an intergovernmental bilateral commission which shall comprise separate sub-commissions for the prompt implementation of the commitments mentioned in operational paragraph 2 above in this Protocol. To prepare the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions, a working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs shall be created 2 months after the day following the entry into force of this Protocol. Within 3 months after the entry into force of this Protocol, these modalities shall be approved at ministerial level. The intergovernmental commission shall meet for the first time immediately after the adoption of the said modalities. The sub-commissions shall start their work at the latest 1 month thereafter and they shall work continuously until the completion of their mandates. Where appropriate, international experts shall take part in the sub-commissions. The timetable and elements agreed by both sides for the implementation of this Protocol arc mentioned in the annexed document, which is an integral part of this Protocol.



This Protocol and the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the first day of the first month following the exchange of instruments of ratification, Armenian MFA said in a statement.