Turkey and Armenia moved closer to establishing diplomatic ties and reopening their border on Monday, saying they would sign accords within six weeks under a plan to end a century of hostility.
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The U.S. State Department welcomed the joint statement, saying normalization should take place without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe, Reuters reported.
"We urge Armenia and Turkey to proceed expeditiously," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement. "We remain ready to work closely with both governments in support of normalization, a historic process that will contribute to peace, security and stability throughout the region."