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EU’s Poland suggests mediation between Turkey and Armenia

Warsaw conveys to Ankara list of proposals aiming to assist normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Turkish govt welcomes Polish offer, which includes mediation between Turkish and Armenian govts, conference on genocide claims with participation of Turkish, Armenian and Polish scholars

AYHAN SIMSEK

Poland recently offered Ankara its services to act as a mediator between Turkey and Armenia to overcome their differences over genocide claims and to normalize relations, The New Anatolian learned yesterday.

Diplomats said that Warsaw’s proposals include the Polish government acting as a mediator between the Turkish and Armenian governments, organizing meetings and conferences between Polish, Turkish and Armenian scholars and further sharing Polish experience in conflict resolution and reconciliation with neighbors.

European Union member Poland is also an important ally to Turkey in NATO. The Polish Parliament’s decision in April last year to adopt a resolution backing the Armenian claims of genocide triggered a sharp response from Ankara at the time. Later statements by Polish government officials disassociating themselves from the resolution and further steps by the two countries prioritizing their common foreign policy goals brought relations back to an even keel. Poland has become one of the main supporters of Turkey’s EU accession process, and Turkey has offered humanitarian assistance as well as transportation to Polish troops in Iraq.

According to diplomats, Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller, during his visit to Ankara two weeks ago, conveyed to his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul a list of proposals including mediation by Poland aimed at a normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Foreign Minister Gul reportedly responded positively to Meller’s ideas and stressed that Turkey is willing to overcome differences over genocide claims and normalize its relations with Armenia. Gul further said that Ankara’s suggestions so far have not received positive response from Yerevan but also added that he is willing to go forward with the Polish proposals if they will facilitate proper grounds for the normalization of relations with Armenia.

Diplomatic sources told TNA yesterday that due to talks of a new coalition government in Poland and the foreign minister handing in his resignation, Ankara now waits for the new government before having more detailed talks on the issue.

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