Armenia-Turkey Relations Must be Developed: Angela Merkel

It’s necessary to develop Armenia-Turkey relations as much as possible, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, according to various Turkish media.

Asked by a German journalist whether the parties had discussed the Armenian Genocide resolutions recently passed by US and Sweden parliamentary panels, Erdogan said:

“We have discussed that matter. In essence, on that issue, our position is clear. Let’s leave that [the issue of the Armenian Genocide] to historians; let them work on that issue. Parliaments are not places for settling those issues. I had written a letter to Mr. Kocharian in 2005; however, I haven’t yet received a response to that letter.”

The Turkish PM stressed that the passing of Armenian Genocide resolutions by different countries’ parliaments negatively affect the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey.

Angela Merkel, in turn, placing importance on the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process, said: “It’s necessary to develop relations between Armenia and Turkey as much as possible. There are hopeful steps being made toward that direction.”