Turkey's Foreign Minister Says Turkey Wants To Normalize Relations With Armenia

NEW YORK - Turkey`s foreign minister expressed on Thursday Turkey`s willingness to normalize relations with Armenia.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey also wanted to create an atmosphere of dialogue with Armenia.
"Turkish president, prime minister and foreign minister sent letters to their Armenian counterparts after recent elections in Armenia, and these letters aimed to open a new door of dialogue with the new (Armenian) administration," Babacan told a press conference in New York.
Babacan is actually in New York City to lobby for Turkey`s candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.
Turkey`s foreign minister said that Turkey`s aim was to have zero problems with its neighbors.
"Naturally, we are also expecting some concrete steps from the other party," Babacan said.
Babacan expressed his belief that Turkey`s problems could be solved through dialogue, and underlined importance of setting up a joint committee of historians to deal with the incidents of 1915.
On appointment of Alexander Downer, Australia`s former foreign minister as the new UN special representative for Cyprus, Babacan said that he saw the appointment as an important signal that the organization would more closely and seriously deal with the Cyprus problem.
"The UN should intervene in settlement of Cyprus problem," he also said.
Babacan expressed Turkey`s wish that comprehensive talks would be launched in Cyprus soon.
Also, Babacan expressed pleasure with the dialogue and cooperation of Turkey and the United States.
(BRC)