Doc. 10587

18 June 2005

Problem of re-opening of the Railroad Connecting Armenia and Turkey

Written question No 458 to the Committee of Ministers

Urgency of establishing relations between Armenia and Turkey

Written question No 469 to the Committee of Ministers

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 930^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (15 June 2005)

I. Written Question No. 458 by Mr Kocharyan (Doc. 10333)

One of the important ways of transportation of goods, which connects South Caucasus with Turkey, is the railroad from Gyumri (Armenia) to Kars (Turkey).

      After Armenia’s independence, one of the actions taken by Turkish authorities towards Armenia’s transport blockade is the closure of the Gyumri-Kars part of the railroad.

      This action contradicts Council of Europe’s principles, is economically harmful not only for Armenia and Turkey, but also for other countries of the region, as well it does not contribute to the improvement of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

      Given these facts, Mr Kocharyan asks the Committee of Ministers:

      Does the Committee of Ministers accept the inadmissibility of the blockade set up by the Council of Europe member state to another member state and could the Committee of Ministers address this matter to the Turkish authorities in order to re-open the Gyumri-Kars part of the railroad connecting Armenia with Turkey?

I. Written Question No. 469 by Mr Kocharyan (Doc. 10549)

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?

II. Reply by the Committee of Ministers

In reply to the Written Questions Nos. 458 and 469 of the Honourable Parliamentarian, Mr Kocharyan, the Committee of Ministers can only refer to Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, which, of course, is binding for all member states of the Organisation.