EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT URGES TURKEY TO OPEN ARMENIA'S BORDERS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Due to the outcomes of the yesterday's discussions held by the European Parliamentary Committee for foreign affairs, a number of amendments are to be moved in the report on "EU Policy towards the South Caucasus". As reported by the Armenian Federation of Europe for Justice and Democracy, the changes refer in part to Armenia's blockade imposed by Turkey. European Parliament's member Per Gahrton, the author of the report agreed with the claims by the Armenian party on the necessity of including into the report the point regarding the opening of the Armenian borders. In this view the following proposal is to be inserted in the report: "For achieving progress in EU-Turkish relations, the latter should undertake steps for normalizing relations with its neighbors". The importance of eliminating the problems impeding the opening of the borders and development of the trade relationship with Armenia has been as well stressed. At the same time the new variant of the report will once again confirm the European Parliament's stand of June 18, 1987 on the issue of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, calling not only to condemn the Genocide perpetrated but also urging Turkey to recognize it as a historic fact.