BRUSSELS (Combined Sources)–Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was due to meet with Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in Brussels today–as a part of the NATO foreign ministers’ fall meeting. On their agenda were discussions on possible opening of their borders to diplomats and tourists.
NATO Foreign Ministers are meeting at Alliance Headquarters in Brussels on December 4 and 5 to examine the political aspects of NATO’s transformation and to discuss key security issues–specifically–NATO’s missions in Afghanistan and the Balkans.
The Ministers will also meet with their counterparts from the European Union to discuss NATO-EU cooperation and the recent proposals for strengthening EU defense cooperation.
Speaking to reporters before departing Turkey–Foreign Minister Gul reacted to European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Verheugen’s recent statemen’s indicating the EU wanted an opposition victory in upcoming Turkish Cypriot elections. Gul called the statement unacceptable and unfortunate.
Verheugen warned on Wednesday that Turkey would suffer both economically and politically if a resolution is not reached on Cyprus–adding that the EU would recognize the TRNC’s election results only if the opposition emerges victorious.