  Wikileaks: Kocharian signaled readiness to talk to Turkey back in 2005  August 25, 2011 - 19:26 AMTPanARMENIAN.Net - According to the information published by whistleblowing website Wikileaks, in a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan dated April 25, 2005 Armenia's President Robert Kocharian stated readiness to normalize relations with Turkey. “As two neighbors, we both must work to find ways to live together in harmony. That is why, from the first day, we have extended our hand to you to establish relations, open the border, and thus start a dialogue between the two countries and two peoples,” Kocharian wrote. As U.S. ambassador to Armenia John Evans said in a classified diplomatic cable, “concerns are caused by several factors.” “The letter was immediately distributed in the U.S. Congress with the clear implication that the process of 'rapprochement' and 'reconciliation' are underway and that any U.S. action (such as a Congressional resolution [on the Armenian Genocide]) are unnecessary,” amb. Evans said. “The Turkish penal code still penalizes citizens for using the term 'genocide' in the Armenian context,” he continued. Nevertheless, amb. Evans said, President Kocharian's letter reiterated the Armenian position: Armenia is ready to discuss any issue, at the intergovernmental level. “Armenia has no preconditions to establishing relations and opening borders. All bilateral problems and issues, including Genocide, can be discussed once relations are established,” he said. “Turkey uses three different excuses to explain their maintaining closed borders. One is Armenia's insistence on Genocide recognition. The second excuse is that Armenians have not reaffirmed Turkey's territorial integrity. The third excuse is the still unresolved Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” the diplomat noted. On August 22, 2011, Turkey's Grand National Assembly has withdrawn from the agenda 898 bills, including the Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in 2009. The new Turkish parliament considers that the issue of opening of border with Armenia is no longer actual for the country's political course. Besides, in compliance with the parliament's regulations, a bill that was rejected by the parliament loses its legal force during six months.   Top stories 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Topic Latest news Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals  Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation.Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush.Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year.Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |
