Doc. 10549

12 May 2005

Urgency of establishing relations between Armenia and Turkey

Written question No 469 to the Committee of Ministers

presented by Mr Kocharyan

      Armenia and Turkey are Council of Europe member countries. Being neighbours the relations between these two countries are far from being considered normal: there are no diplomatic relations, land borders are not open, the railroads are not functioning and a blockade is set.

      Turkey is in the process of starting negotiations for accession to the European Union and Armenia is included in the European Union New Neighbourhood Policy. Turkey not only continues to be an obstacle to the reopening of the Gyumri – Kars railroad, but also actively participates in hindering the projecting of an alternative Baku – Akhalkalak – Kars railroad. The European Union stressed repeatedly that to close borders between an European Union candidate country and a country included in the European Union New Neighbourhood Policy is in strong contradiction with European border policy and adopted values.

      Armenia undertook many times steps towards establishing relations without preconditions. This was expressed also in the last letter of the President of Armenia addressed to the Prime Minister of Turkey on 25 April 2005 where it is said: "There are neighbouring countries, particularly on the European continent, which have had a difficult past, about which they differ. Your suggestion to address the past can not be effective if it deflects from addressing the present and the future. In order to engage in a useful dialogue, we need to create the appropriate and conducive political environment. It is the responsibility of governments to develop bilateral relations and we do not have the right to delegate that responsibility to historians. That is why we have proposed and propose again that, without preconditions, we establish normal relations between our two countries".

      Recalling Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Resolution 1047 (1994) which "urgently calls on Azerbaijan and Turkey to immediately end the blockade of their means of communication with Armenia",

      Mr Kocharyan asks the Committee of Ministers

      What steps is the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe going to take to make the authorities of Turkey eliminate this abnormal situation between Council of Europe member states?

Signed ¹:

KOCHARYAN, Shavarsh, Armenia, LDR

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group