EU official says Turkey must strengthen ties with Armenia

Jun 19, 2005, 12:40 GMT
Media Monitor, BBC Monitoring Service

Kars, 19 June: Turkey-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk has indicated that Turkey's most important task in its EU process is good relations with its neighbours.
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"Turkey must strengthen its relations with Armenia. Nothing can be achieved with isolationist policies. I believe that Azerbaijan can get back its territory through dialogue. The EU must play an active role to find a solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute. We must look at the Turkey-Armenia and Armenia-Azerbaijan problems as ones separate from each other," told Lagendijk.
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[...] "We agree with Mr Erdogan on his stance vis-a-vis Armenia. An independent committee of historians must be formed to study the incidents of early 20th century. Independent studies must take place on the events of 1915. However, the border gate between Turkey and Armenia must be opened soon," said Lagendijk.
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