The Foreign Ministry said that it was to be hoped that the tragic killing of Hrant Dink would contribute to creating a new atmosphere in Turkish-Armenian relations.
Güncelleme: 15:48 TSÝ 26 Ocak 2007 Cuma
ANKARA – There is nothing new to be found in comments by Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister saying that his country is ready to establish relations with Turkey without any preconditions, a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry late Thursday said.
The Armenian government had made similar comments on several occasions in the past, the statement said.
Armenian Deputy FM Arman Kirakosian, made while he was in Istanbul to attend the funeral of murdered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, were not a sign of a new step, the statement said.
Turkey wants to improve its relations with all its neighbours within the framework of mutual confidence and respect, said that Foreign Ministry.
However, enhancing bilateral and regional relations and co-operation cannot only be achieved by the steps to be taken by Turkey but can be possible with the will and steps of the other parties, the statement said.
Turkey had taken a number of concrete steps in the past to further improve dialogue with Armenia, including Ankara’s proposal to set up a joint history commission to look into allegations that the Ottoman Empire had committed an act of genocide against its Armenian citizens during the First World War.
The statement also said that it was to be hoped that the slaying of Dink would “contribute to the creation of a new atmosphere in Turkish-Armenian relations, and Armenia will respond to our good-willed efforts to overcome the stagnation in our relations with Armenia”.
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