Gul calls for progress in Turkish-Armenian rapprochement process

President Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Turkey and Armenia will continue to work to move the normalization process forward based on the understanding reached between the two countries in early November last year. "We have to be aware that concluding this historic process will require honoring our commitments in their entirety as well as displaying adequate political courage and vision," Gul said in his response to a message given by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian. Turkey allowed Sarkisian's plane to use the country’s airspace while flying to London last week. The Armenian president sent a courtesy message to Gul while passing through Turkish airspace. The normalization process has faced difficulties following the Armenian constitutional court’s underlining that the protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia should not breach that country’s Independence Declaration. Article 11 of the declaration says that Armenia will always stand for the worldwide recognition of the 1915 incidents as genocide. Though the court found the protocols compatible with the constitution, this reference caused deep concerns in Ankara. Gul’s comment that the process should move forward based on the understanding reached between the two countries directly refers to this ongoing row. "I also agree with you that responsible governance necessitates both standing behind words and supporting words with deeds, Gul said. "Overcoming the long-established prejudices and nurturing mutual understanding and trust among our two neighboring peoples were indeed our main objectives when endorsing the process of normalization between our countries. You should have no doubt that our determination to move these objectives forward is intact, provided that this resolve and commitment remains reciprocal." The protocols, which envision the opening of the sealed border and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries, must be ratified by both parliaments before they can enter into force.