Armenia, Turkey to establish diplomatic relations

YEREVAN. September 1. KAZINFORM Armenia and Turkey will establish diplomatic relations and exchange diplomatic missions in less than one month and a half. This is envisaged by a protocol which is already initialled and will be signed upon the conclusion of inter-political consultations in both countries, Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.

Its text was published here on Monday by the press and information department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry simultaneously with a statement of the two countries' Foreign Ministries, as well as the Swiss Foreign Ministry which was a mediator in normalizing relations between Yerevan and Ankara.

Armenia and Turkey confirmed their "mutual recognition of the existing border between the two countries by an agreement in accordance with international law" and underlined the importance of their decision to open the Armenian-Turkish border.

Yerevan and Ankara announced their "resolution to refrain from pursuing the policy which doesn't correspond to the spirit of good-neighbourly relations." The sides stated their striving to "develop bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and other spheres.''

It is envisaged that diplomatic relations will be established as of the moment of signing of the protocol. It comes into force simultaneously with the protocol on bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey since the first day of the month following the date of exchanging of instruments of ratification, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.