“Turkey and Armenia need to move forward in ratifying and implementing protocols signed last October on establishing diplomatic relations,” stated U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon, World Bulletin reports.

“We believe this is an opportunity to overcome really historic differences between the two countries in a way that would benefit both,” Gordon outlined.

“To establish normalized relations between the two countries and open the border would contribute to peace and stability in the region, and we think that is true regardless of other issues — that it needs to move forward independently of other issues, simply because it is in the interest of the two countries,” the source quotes Gordon’s words.

Gordon also noted that U.S. Government was in touch with Yerevan and Ankara and Obama administration encouraged them to move forward.

L.A.