08 October 2009
Clinton to Witness Historic Agreement Between Turkey and Armenia
Washington — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in Zurich October 10 to witness the signing of two agreements between the Turkish and Armenian governments to establish normal diplomatic ties and an open border, after nearly a century of hostile relations between the two nations.
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon told reporters October 8 that Clinton will attend the signing ceremony to show the Obama administration’s support for what he described as “an historic step for both Turkey and Armenia toward normalization of their relations.” The Zurich stop will be part of her October 9–15 trip to Europe.
The United States has been engaged in the Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and will “remain ready to work with both governments in support of this process, which we believe will contribute to peace and security and stability throughout the region,” Gordon said.
The relationship between the two countries has been hostile because of the Ottoman Empire’s murder of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 during World War I. The two nations have never had diplomatic ties.
President Obama expressed support for the reconciliation process in an April 24 statement marking Armenian Remembrance Day, saying: “Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is peaceful, productive and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.” (See “Statement by President Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day.”)
A senior State Department official speaking on background October 8 acknowledged that both the Turkish and Armenian governments face domestic opposition for normalizing their countries’ relationship.
“It’s difficult,” the official said. “But both governments realize that, ultimately, it’s in their interest to have normalized relations and an open border, and after years of tensions and the economic isolation, particularly of Armenia, I think there is a great desire on both sides to move forward.”
The two documents to be signed are “a protocol on normalization of relations and a protocol on establishing diplomatic ties,” the official said, and follow an April 22 announcement by Turkey and Armenia that they had agreed in principle on those issues.
Once signed, the documents will be sent to the Armenian and Turkish parliaments for ratification, which would “complete the process of normalization,” the official said.
Clinton will be joined at the ceremony in Zurich by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, and Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar, whose country holds the Council of Europe presidency, the official said.
The secretary “has been consistently engaged on the issue to try to help our friends move forward,” the official said. Clinton has met with the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers and has had telephone conversations with officials from both countries.
At the signing in Zurich, Clinton will “stand with them and show that we support it, and consult with them on [the] next steps forward,” the official said.
RUSSIA VISIT ALSO ON AGENDA
Assistant Secretary Gordon said Clinton also will be visiting Kazan, the capital of the Russian republic of Tatarstan, to speak with local officials about interfaith relations. Kazan hosts a large Muslim population, along with Eastern Orthodox Christians and other religious groups.
Clinton “will meet with local officials and hold discussions with religious leaders in Kazan to learn more about Kazan’s experience in fostering tolerance and promoting interfaith dialogue,” Gordon said.
“The secretary will be hoping to gain a better understanding of what has worked well in Tatarstan’s development and solicit advice from religious leaders, young Muslims, participants in U.S. exchange programs and civil society representatives on how to apply the lessons from their experience in other societies,” he said.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said October 8 that the secretary wanted to visit a part of Russia “outside of the capital,” Moscow, which is also on her itinerary.
“To really understand a country, you have to get outside of the capital. And I think that's particularly true with Russia, to be able to see something besides the area inside the Ring Road,” he said, referring to the series of highways circling Moscow.
“Kazan was a good place to go because it really shows that the Russian Federation is a multiethnic country … made up of many constituent parts and has many different ethnic groups and faiths represented,” Kelly said.
Along with Zurich and Kazan, the secretary’s October 9–15 trip will also take her to London, Dublin, Belfast and Moscow. Gordon told reporters that Clinton will be discussing ongoing efforts to improve Ireland’s economy and expressing support for the Northern Ireland peace process, as well as discussing bilateral issues with British and Irish officials.
In Moscow, Clinton will discuss progress on the successor agreement to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires December 5, as well as cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation, counterterrorism and other issues of bilateral concern, he said.
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