Turkey, Armenia agree to start talks to resume diplomatic ties (UPDATE)

11:31

On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations" to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations.

Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two countries' parliaments for approval.

"Armenia and Turkey, in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on establishment of diplomatic relations, agreed to establish diplomatic relations since the signing of the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and exchange diplomatic missions," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

This Protocol and the Protocol on the Development of Bilateral Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey shall enter into force on the same day, i.e. on the first day of the first month following of instruments of ratification, the document said.

The Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers also adopted a joint action plan to implement the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the following items:

"1. to open the common border

within 2 months after the entry into force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

2. to establish a working group headed by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs to prepare the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commission 2 months after the day following the entry into force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

3. to approve the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions at ministerial level within 3 months after the entry into force of the Protocol on the development of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey

4. to organize the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission immediately after the adoption of the working modalities of the intergovernmental commission and its sub-commissions at ministerial level

5. to operate the following sub-commissions:

the sub-commission on political consultations;
the sub-commission on transport, communications and energy infrastructure and networks;
the sub-commission on legal matters;
the sub-commission on science and education;
the sub-commission on trade, tourism and economic cooperation;
the sub-commission on environmental issues: and
the sub-commission on the historical dimension to implement a dialogue with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archive to define existing problems and formulate recommendations, in which Armenian, Turkish as well as Swiss and other international experts shall take part," the document said.

Armenia-Turkey ties have been severed since 1993.

09:21

Turkey and Armenia have agreed to start internal political consultations on the establishment of diplomatic ties and development of bilateral relations, said Monday a joint statement issued by Turkey, Armenia, and Switzerland, Anadolu news agency reported.

The statement said internal political consultations over two protocols, which had been agreed on under Swiss mediation, would be completed within six weeks which would be followed by ratification at Turkish and Armenian parliaments.

"Both sides will make their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in line with their constitutional and legal procedures," the statement said.

The statement also said Turkey and Armenia "are committed to pursuing their joint efforts with the assistance of Switzerland."

/Trend News/