OSKANYAN-GUL MEETING RAISES HOPES OF LIMITED

C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 003034

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL AM AJ TU
SUBJECT: OSKANYAN-GUL MEETING RAISES HOPES OF LIMITED
BORDER OPENING


Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN ORDWAY FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Foreign Minister Oskanyan told Ambassador
that Turkish Foreign Minister Gul had indicated to him in a
December 5 meeting that Turkey would open its border with
Armenia to the two country's diplomatic passport holders as
early as January 2004. The two foreign ministers also
discussed regional security issues and Nagorno-Karabakh. End
summary.


2. (C) Oskanyan informed the Ambassador that he expected the
GOT to open the Armenian-Turkish border to each country's
diplomatic passport holders as early as January 2004. During
their December 5 meeting in Brussels, he and Foreign Minister
Gul discussed the 15-point plan developed by the two sides
and agreed on this first step. Oskanyan suggested that the
GOT might slow the process following the December 16 vote by
the Swiss parliament's passing an Armenian genocide
resolution. He said that no agreement was in place to open
the border to third country diplomats or tourists, but even
the limited opening discussed by Gul would put in place the
border crossing infrastructure required by a future broader
opening. Oskanyan also stated that he had suggested a
ceremonial that he and Gul meet at the border, but had
received a non-committal answer.


3. (C) During a previous meeting, Anahit Harutunyan, the Head
of the MFA's Turkey Section, confirmed that both sides
agreed to move forward on the list of pre-established steps
that could lead to full normalization of relations.
According to Harutunyan, the first agreed step is the opening
of the border for diplomatic passport holders and third
country nationals. She said that Oskanyan and Gul had
discussed the logistical requirements of such an action, and
that Gul seemed more willing than in previous discussions to
move ahead on this step without any other pre-conditions
being met, such as progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh
negotiations.


4. (C) Harutunyan said that Gul raised Nagorno-Karabakh
within a broader discussion of regional security issues. Gul
said Turkey wished to become "more decisively involved" in
the settlement of the dispute, but did not elaborate on what
actions the GOT would take.
ORDWAY