Turquie et Arménie, vers le dépassement d’une animosité centenaire ?

EU Enlargement and External Relations Commissioners Olli Rehn and Benita Ferrero-Waldner issued a joint statement welcoming the agreement between Armenia and Turkey to advance the process of normalisating relations. 

"The European Commission attaches high importance to a rapid and steady implementation of the protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and on the development of bilateral relations. This agreement should contribute to peace and and stability in the South Caucasus," the statement reads. 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed as "historic" the statement on improving Armenian-Turkish relations. On his official website, Sarkozy calls on the two countries to redouble efforts to achieve this goal. 

The United States welcomed the joint statement by Turkey and Armenia in a State Department communiqué. 

"It has long been and remains the position of the United States that normalisation should take place without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe. We urge Armenia and Turkey to proceed expeditiously, according to the agreed framework as described in today's statement. We remain ready to work closely with both governments in support of normalisation, a historic process that will contribute to peace, security and stability throughout the region," the communiqué reads. 

Azerbaijan voiced doubts that Turkey would re-open its border with Armenia until the conflict over its breakaway Nagorno Karabakh region is resolved. Azerbaijani foreign ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov told AFP that the opening of the border without the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict would contradict the interests of Azerbaijan.

"Turkey should not be permitted to abuse these bilateral negotiations 'packaging away' its historic national liabilities in border-opening agreements with Armenia, its economically vulnerable neighbour," stated Hilda Tchoboian the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy. "The international community must reject Turkey’s most recent practice of imposing its policy of denial of the Armenian genocide through such biased bilateral deals. And the Swiss government should be more vigilant in its assessment of the moral implications of its mediation initiative given Turkey’s questionable record in all these issues," she said.

"For decades, the European Armenian communities fought all forms of genocide denial, advocated for the right to self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabagh, and defended the heritage of the Armenian people in all of its aspects, having by their side the unwavering support of the European society to their Just Cause. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to defend the legitimate rights of our People with the same determination," Tchoboian concluded.