[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 22690]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   NORMALIZING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REPUBLICS OF ARMENIA AND 
                                 TURKEY

  (Mr. SNYDER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SNYDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to recent 
encouraging developments concerning discussions between the Republic of 
Turkey and the Republic of Armenia.
  On August 31, 2009, Turkey and Armenia, along with Switzerland, which 
acted as broker for the talks, announced two protocols and a timetable 
for normalizing relationships between Armenia and Turkey. These 
protocols have been initialed by both foreign ministries.
  While many have seen the longstanding disputes between Turkey and 
Armenia as intractable, the recent announcement gives hope that these 
two countries have taken the first tangible steps on the road to 
rapprochement. The Protocol for the Establishment of Diplomatic 
Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey 
reinforces the willingness of these two governments to open their 
shared border and to advance bilateral relations, including trade and 
economic cooperation.
  Although this process still faces a number of hurdles, including 
ratification by the two countries' respective parliaments, I am 
encouraged by and applaud the initial important steps Turkey and 
Armenia have taken to strengthen their relations by beginning an open 
dialogue on some of the major issues that divide them. I commend 
Switzerland for its important role.
  My four little boys--Penn, Aubrey, Wyatt, and Sullivan--and all of 
the children of the world, whether Turkish, Armenian or American, 
benefit when diplomacy succeeds.

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