Ankara-Yerevan rapprochement to allow Garabagh settlement: CE chief
Thorbjorn Jagland, the Council of Europe (CE) Secretary General,
has said he welcomes Turkey-Armenia rapprochement and hopes the
process of mending their strained ties will allow to resolve the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
The remarks came following the ceremony of transferring CE Committee of Ministers chairmanship to Switzerland from Slovenia. Jagland told a press conference with the two countries’ foreign ministers that his organization was ready to facilitate reconciliation efforts if Ankara and Yerevan seek assistance.
"So far, we have not been approached over this issue. Both countries are Council of Europe members, and this fact alone is important for both sides as well as for the process of normalizing relations," the CE chief added.
Following decades of hostility, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols on October 10 to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders. The agreement has raised concerns in Azerbaijan, which faces a long-standing conflict with Armenia. However, Turkey has assured Azerbaijan, its ally, that the protocols will not pass in its parliament until progress is made in resolving the Garabagh conflict.*
The remarks came following the ceremony of transferring CE Committee of Ministers chairmanship to Switzerland from Slovenia. Jagland told a press conference with the two countries’ foreign ministers that his organization was ready to facilitate reconciliation efforts if Ankara and Yerevan seek assistance.
"So far, we have not been approached over this issue. Both countries are Council of Europe members, and this fact alone is important for both sides as well as for the process of normalizing relations," the CE chief added.
Following decades of hostility, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols on October 10 to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders. The agreement has raised concerns in Azerbaijan, which faces a long-standing conflict with Armenia. However, Turkey has assured Azerbaijan, its ally, that the protocols will not pass in its parliament until progress is made in resolving the Garabagh conflict.*
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