International community applauds Turkey-Armenia deal

The Turkish and Armenian parliaments must now approve the deal, in the face of opposition from nationalists on both sides and an Armenian diaspora which insists that Turkey acknowledge the killings of Anatolian Armenians during World War I as genocide.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoğlu, signed the Swiss-mediated deal at a ceremony in Zurich on Saturday that was also attended by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

“The secretary-general welcomes the signing today in Zurich of the two protocols aimed at normalizing the relations between Armenia and Turkey,” a statement issued by a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon read. “This historic decision constitutes a milestone toward the establishment of good neighborly relations and the development of bilateral cooperation between both countries. The secretary-general is confident that this development will also contribute to peace, security and stability in the South Caucasus,” the statement said.

In a joint statement, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn called the signing “a courageous and far-sighted step forward.” “The signature of the protocols confirms the desire of both Turkey and Armenia to turn a page and build a new future. This opens new perspectives for the solution of conflicts, notably in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the EU statement said.

France, Russia and the United States, whose foreign ministers were present at the ceremony, are the three co-chairs of the OSCE's Minsk group.

Lavrov, speaking to Russian media following the ceremony, noted that the protocols “determine parties' further actions on normalization of intergovernmental ties” and will “boost trade and economic contacts, making a positive impact on social and economic situation both in Armenia and Turkey.”

“Russia is ready to support the process through further implementation of collaboration projects between Armenia and Turkey, specifically in the spheres of electrical energy and transport,” Lavrov said. “We sense the firm position on establishment of neighborly relations between Armenia and Turkey, which has to promote further steps on strengthening of peace and stability in the region.”

In London, British Justice Secretary Jack Straw expressed pleasure over the signing of the protocols.

“Ten years ago, a development like this or President [Abdullah] Gül's visit to Yerevan could not even be imagined,” Straw was quoted as saying in response to a question by the Anatolia news agency, while referring to the fact that a first sign of a thaw in relations came in September of last year, when Gül went to the Armenian capital to watch a World Cup soccer qualifying match between the two countries at the invitation of Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan.

Noteworthy support of the ongoing process of normalization came from a group of Armenians living abroad, led by famous French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour, also Armenia's ambassador to Switzerland.

“It is clear that this process does not mean to forget the past and to question the fact and the importance of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian leaders with the sense of high responsibility for the future of the motherland and coming generations, act today with wisdom and courage for the establishment of the relations between the two countries and the opening of borders without any preconditions. We support the policy adopted by the Armenian authorities by urging all our compatriots in Armenia and the Diaspora to assist this process in all possible ways,” the group said in an open letter addressed to the Armenian diaspora.