Armenian experts to inspect Turkish part of CFE Treaty

An inspection group from the Armenian Ministry of Defense has headed
to Turkey to inspect the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe, News
Armenia reports, citing the ministry.

The experts will inspect the quantity of forces in the city of Bayazet.
This is the second Armenian expert visit to Turkey. In March 2010, an
inspection was held within the framework of the Vienna document in
1999 and included inspection of Sarikamysh, Kars, Ardagan and Igdir.
No violations were found.

The Vienna document was passed by the OSCE forum for cooperation in
security on November 16, 1999. The document is aimed at development of
progress in strengthening trust security in disarming.

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties. The border between the two
countries was closed in 1993 by Ankara over Turkey's support of the
Azerbaijani position in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Turkish position
on the recognition of Armenian genocide in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan initiated progress in relations
between the two countries. On October 10, 2009, the Ministries of
Foreign Affairs of Turkey and Armenia signed a protocol on
establishment of diplomatic relations in Zurich. Turkey has been
dragging ratification of the protocols, resulting in Armenian
president"s halting of the process on April 22, 2010.