Turkey and Armenia
Nato
House of Commons debates, 20 October 2009, 2:30 pm
Bob Laxton (Derby North, Labour)
What assessment he has made of the implications for Government policy in the region of the conclusion of protocols on (a) development of relations and (b) establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia.
Chris Bryant (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Rhondda, Labour)
The Government welcome the signing of protocols between Armenia and Turkey. That is important not only for those countries, but for peace in the wider region.
Bob Laxton (Derby North, Labour)
What further steps can the Government take to encourage both Turkey and Armenia to ratify and implement these protocols, because the benefits will be immense for the region? We need to ensure that momentum in this process is maintained.
Chris Bryant (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Rhondda, Labour)
My hon. Friend is right: we need to ensure that ratification is proceeded with by the Parliaments, and two months after that it will be possible to open the border. That is such a significant change from the position that we were in only a few years ago that all Members will wholeheartedly welcome it. We remain committed to Turkey eventually being able to accede to the European Union, but it is impossible to have any leverage arguing that with German and French colleagues unless one sits down in the European Parliament with them, not with people who still refuse to apologise for the Latvian SS.