French FM offers assistance in establishing relations between Armenia and Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner voiced regret over the closed the Turkish-Armenian border and the blockade of Armenia.



"I raised the issue during a meeting with Turkey's Ali Babacan and his approach seemed positive but the reasons for keeping the border closed are not understandable for me," Mr Kouchner said after talks with Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.



As independent French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net the French Minister offered assistance in eliminating "political and intellectual obstacles" in the way toward Armenia-Turkey reconciliation. "Assuming the EU presidency in July, France will work for the purpose," he said.



For his part, Minister Nalbandian remarked that political leaders of Armenia and Turkey should meet halfway to turn the dark page of the history. "Both Armenia and Turkey as well as the entire region will benefit from normalization of relations without preconditions," he said.