Volkan Vural: Ankara should establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan without wasting timeSeptember 15, 2008 - 17:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The recent visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia can serve as a basis for further development of relations between the two states, said Volkan Vural, the Turkish Ambassador to Armenia in 1991-93. "Diplomatic relations between the two countries must be established, without wasting any time," he said, adding that the opening of the border with Armenia would not only benefit Armenia, but also Turkey. The former ambassador said that Turkey lost a golden opportunity to establish relations with Armenia when the Soviet Union collapsed. "If Turkey had established diplomatic relations with Armenia in 1991, perhaps it would have averted the Karabakh conflict," he said. Vulral added that the establishment of diplomatic relations would also benefit Azerbaijan. "As to territorial claims, Turkey has an army equal in amount to the entire population of Armenia. So, we must feel safe," he said, Taraf Turkish newspaper reports. Volkan Vural was the only Turkey's ambassador to Armenia with residence in Moscow while Yerevan wasn't represented in Ankara even at the level of Charge d'Affaires. Presently, Karen Mirzoyan, Armenia's representative to the BSEC (residence in Istanbul), is the only Armenian diplomat in Turkey. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |