ARMENIA-TURKEY: TIME HAS COME FOR "SINCERITY AND BOLDNESS"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Within the framework of the Strasbourg Summit of Heads of the Parliaments of the countries represented in the PACE Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Artur Baghdasarian met with Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Bulent Arinc. As reported by the Press Service of the Parliament of Armenia, at the meeting of the Armenian and Turkish supreme legislative bodies, which is the first one in the history, the need of establishing diplomatic and parliamentary ties between the two countries was concerned. The parties emphasized the importance of establishing interstate dialogue. A. Baghdasarian noted the importance of Turkey having unbiased stand in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement to the highest possible degree. The issue of the Armenian Genocide and territorial claims was also touched upon. Thereupon the Armenian Speaker emphasized that the Genocide of the 1.5 million Armenians is a historical fact beyond doubt. At the same time he stressed the question of territorial claims is not on the political agenda of Armenia today. At that Artur Baghdasarian and Bulent Arinc noted the importance of establishing commercial and economic relations between the two countries. The parties accentuated that the time has come for "sincerity and boldness," to tell each other the truth and to take steps to normalize relations. Bulent Arinc said his country is ready to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, noting Turkey does not aim at isolating Armenia and is ready to meetings at different levels.