EU Official says Turkey must strengthen relations with Armenia
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.
Anatolia News Agency, Ankara, 19/6/2005
Lagendijk was at the Kars Mayor Naif Alibeyoglu’s office yesterday where he made some comments on Turkey-EU relations.
“Turkey must strengthen its relations with Armenia. Nothing can be
achieved with isolationist policies. I believe that Azerbaidjan can get
back its territory through dialogue. The EU must play an active role to
find a solution to the Armenian-Azerbaidjani dispute. We must look at
the Turkey-Armenia and Armenia-Azerbaidjan problems as ones separate
from each other”, told Lagendijk.
According to Lagendijk, it is vital to have regional policies to
develop the economy in poor areas. “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.
Meanwhile, Kars Mayor Naif Alibeyoglu stressed that the people of
Kars wholeheartedly support Turkey’s EU membership. “The EU is a goal
outlined by Kemal Ataturk. We want to be a part of the EU”, noted Ali
Beyoglu.
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