US: Armenia and Turkey should establish bilateral ties without preconditions

PanARMENIAN.Net - US Administration remains committed to the idea that Armenian-Turkish ties normalization process cannot last forever, Philip Gordon, US Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs, told a press conference in Yerevan. "After April 22 statement of Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministries, US State Department welcomed the step. Today, I reiterate Washington's position that Armenia and Turkey should establish mutual ties without any preconditions and within reasonable time-limits," American diplomat stressed, characterizing Yerevan-Ankara talks as a separate process. "Talks on Armenian-Turkish ties normalization cannot last forever, and it's very important that parties perfectly realize that," Philip Gordon added, noting the mutual advantage of the process for both countries as well as the entire region.



On April 22, 2009, Armenia and Turkey carried out intensive work by the mediation of Switzerland, towards normalization of bilateral ties and development of friendly relations. Thereafter, US State Department released a statement calling on parties to normalize relations without preconditions and within reasonable time-limits. "We call on Yerevan and Ankara to act within the frames of the agreement and road map. We hope for both parties cooperation towards normalization of ties, contributing to peace, security and stability in the region," runs the statement.