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Armenia's Foreign Minister Edouard Nalbandian (seated L) and Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sign documents during the signing ceremony of a peace deal between the two countries in Zurich October 10, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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ZURICH, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Armenia and Turkey here on Saturday signed landmark protocols aimed at ending their long-time hostilities and normalizing bilateral relations.
The protocols were signed in Zurich University by Armenian Foreign Minister Edouard Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu after more than three hours of delay due to a last-minute disagreement over the wording of statements planned to be made after the signing ceremony.
The obstacle was finally overcome by the two sides under the mediation of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and in the end no statements were made by either side.
According to the protocols, the two countries will establish diplomatic ties and open long-sealed common borders. They will also try to solve their historical dispute over the World War I massacres of Armenians under Ottoman rule.
But the two countries' parliaments have to ratify the protocols before they can take effect.
Those present at Saturday's signing ceremony also included such heavyweights as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and the European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Switzerland has acted as mediator in the process to normalize bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey for over a year.
On August 31, the two countries agreed to launch internal political consultations culminating in the signing of the two protocols in spite of domestic oppositions.
Armenia and Turkey have had no diplomatic or economic ties since Armenia declared its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. The two neighbors have long been at odds over the World War I massacres of Armenians under Ottoman rule.
Armenia claims that more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a systematic genocide in the hands of the Ottomans during World War I before modern Turkey was born in 1923. But Turkey insists that the Armenians were victims of widespread chaos and governmental breakdown as the 600-year-old Ottoman Empire collapsed.
Turkey also closed its border with Armenia in 1993 to support Azerbaijan during its conflict with Armenia over a disputed territory and has said the border could be opened only after the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the territory.
Protocols with Armenia reflect Turkey's peaceful vision: FM
ANKARA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Sunday the protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia in Zurich on Saturday are a reflection of Turkey's peaceful vision.
In an interview with Turkey's state-run TRT TV channel, Davutoglu said the signing of the protocols was a "crucial step."Full story
UN chief hails signing of pacts between Armenia, Turkey
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday hailed the signing of two protocols aimed at normalizing the relations between Armenia and Turkey, describing the decision as "a milestone toward the establishment of good neighborly relations and the development of bilateral cooperation" between the two countries.
A statement, issued by Ban's spokesperson here, said, "the secretary-general welcomes the signing today in Zurich of the two protocols aimed at normalizing the relations between Armenia and Turkey." Full story
Turkey, Armenia's protocols lay cornerstone for dissolving century-old row
ANKARA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Two protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia on Saturday to normalize ties and develop relations have laid a cornerstone for the two neighbors to quench their near century-old row. Full story
EU welcomes normalization of relations between Armenia, Turkey
STOCKHOLM, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) Saturday welcomed the signing of two protocols aimed at normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey.
The full normalization of bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey will be an important contribution to security, stability and cooperation throughout this crucial region, Sweden, which holds current EU presidency, said in a statement.Full story
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