InternationalWashington briefing: U.S. again insists on “reasonable timeframe” for Armenia-Turkey normalization
Published: Thursday October 01, 2009
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian of Armenia, New York, Sept. 28, 2009.
Washington - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon reaffirmed U.S. support for the Armenia-Turkey normalization process this week.
Their comments were made on September 28 following meetings Mrs. Clinton held with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
President Barack Obama reportedly discussed the subject briefly with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the G20 summit in Pittsburgh on September 25.
As was the case six months ago, when the first joint statement by Armenia and Turkey was released, U.S. officials agreed with Armenia that normalization "should take place... within a reasonable timeframe."
While neither Armenian nor U.S. officials spoke of a concrete time period, Mr. Gordon explained, "when we say reasonable timeframe, we mean just that: that it's not just the process that we want to see - we welcome the process; but we also want to see a conclusion to the process, and that's what we're underscoring when we say that."
According to Zaman newspaper, Mr. Erdogan suggested the Armenia-Turkey protocols would be signed on October 10 in Zurich, Switzerland. The protocols are thereafter subject to parliamentary ratification, for which there is no announced timetable.
In his comments, Mr. Erdogan also hinted that further progress depended on Armenia's President Serge Sargsian accepting an invitation to watch the Armenia-Turkey soccer match in Turkey on October 14. Mr. Gordon said the United States thought it would be a "good thing" if the Armenian president went. Mr. Sargsian himself had indicated earlier that he would only go if there was real progress toward normalization of relations.
But, as Mr. Gordon noted in his comments, "There are things still to be finalized as to the details of a signature and submission to parliament." The remarks indicated persistent concerns about a speedy ratification of the agreement.
The United States has long promoted normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, and while the United States is not formally involved in the current process, mediated by Switzerland, U.S. officials are believed to have had behind-the-scenes involvement.
In a September 30 letter to Secretary Clinton, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) suggested the U.S. statements were an indication of "heavy pressure" the United States was allegedly applying on the Armenian government to go through with the Turkey protocols. President Sargsian, who intensified talks with Turkey last year, has denied there was any pressure.
The ANCA also relayed "growing alarm and outrage among Armenian-Americans" over the protocols, and also reiterated its dissatisfaction with the Obama administration's policies on Armenian issues.
