A senior U.S. official called on Turkey and Armenia to ratify protocols signed last year to normalize relations.

Philip Gordon, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, told a press conference that Turkey and Armenia need to move forward in ratifying and implementing protocols signed last October on establishing diplomatic relations.

“We believe this is an opportunity to overcome historic differences between the two countries in a way that would benefit both,” Gordon said.

“To establish normalized relations between the two countries and open the border would contribute to peace and stability in the region, and we think that is true regardless of other issues – that it needs to move forward independently of other issues, simply because it is in the interest of the two countries,” he said.

Gordon said the U.S. government was in touch with both governments and that the Obama administration encouraged them to move forward.

“Turkey-Armenia normalization is a good thing in and of itself and it should move forward because of that,” he said.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News
URL: hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=us-calls-on-turkey-armenia-to-ratify-protocols-2010-02-02

Filed under: Turkish Press