YEREVAN. – Establishment of normal relations between Yerevan and Ankara will contribute to Turkey’s joining the EU, said Wilfried Martens, President of European People’s Party (EPP).
The main goals of joining the EU are not only economic criteria but free movement of citizens within the EU, he told a briefing in Yerevan on Tuesday.
“It is one of the main criteria,” he noted expressing disappointment with slowdown in Armenia-Turkey reconciliation process.
In October 2009 Armenia and Turkey signed protocols in Zurich to normalize diplomatic relations between the states. The documents had to be ratified in both parliaments. However, Ankara set preconditions and linked the reconciliation process to resolution of the Karabakh conflict. In 2010 the Armenian president suspended the process due to Turkey’s non-constructive stance.
via Friendship with Armenia to help Turkey join EU | Armenia News – NEWS.am.