Turkey and Armenia have developed a plan for normalization of bilateral relations.

Turkey and Armenia have agreed on a phased plan for the normalization of bilateral relations - the "road map", said on Wednesday, April 22, AFP, referring to the statement by Turkish Foreign Ministry. "Road Map" was developed in the course of Turkish-Armenian talks, which were brokered by the Swiss.

Participants in the negotiations, RIA Novosti quoted a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, conducted intensive work to normalize bilateral relations and their development in a spirit of good neighborliness and mutual respect, thereby consolidating peace, stability and security throughout the region. " Details step-by-step plan for normalizing relations negotiators have not yet been disclosed.

In September 2008, Armenia for the first time in the history of visited the head of the Turkish state. Formally, a visit to Armenia, President Abdullah Gul of Turkey was held in conjunction with the qualifying match for World Cup 2010 between the Turkish and Armenian national teams. Before the match was a meeting Gul and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, during which they expressed their willingness to resolve differences between the two countries.

Between Turkey and Armenia have not been established diplomatic relations. In 1993, Turkey closed its border with Armenia in order to demonstrate solidarity with Azerbaijan in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey has repeatedly stated that, pending settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh does not intend to conduct any talks with Armenia on the opening of the border.

In addition, the Turkish government demands that Armenia has ceased to seek international recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915. Armenia claims that were then destroyed about a half million people. The fact that genocide is recognized by several countries, including Russia, France, Italy, Switzerland and Canada. Turkey categorically denies the Armenian genocide, insisting that the deaths of innocent people occurred as a result of fighting between the regular army and the Armenian rebels.

April 21, Turkey withdrew its ambassador from Canada, the parliament five years ago which recognized the Armenian Genocide. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada, in turn, on Wednesday, April 22, said that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide should not be seen as accusing the authorities of modern Turkey, a democratic country and a partner for NATO. "