US warmly welcomes Turkey-Armenia normalization: U.S. Department Spokesman Ian Kelly’s official statement released on August 31, 2009 reads.

According to Kelly the United States warmly welcomes the joint statement made by Turkey and Armenia, with Swiss participation, outlining further steps in the normalization of their bilateral relations. “It has long been and remains the position of the United States that normalization should take place without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe,” statement says.

U.S. urges Armenia and Turkey to proceed expeditiously, according to the agreed framework as described in today’s statement. “We remain ready to work closely with both governments in support of normalization, a historic process that will contribute to peace, security and stability throughout the region,” the statement goes on.

As NEWS.am has informed earlier, late on August 31, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Ministries of Armenia and Turkey issued a press releases which says: “The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey have agreed to start their internal political consultations on two protocols – the ‘Protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations’ and the ‘Protocol on the development of bilateral relations’ – which have been initiated in the course of their efforts under Swiss mediation.

The two Protocols provide for a framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations within a reasonable timeframe. The political consultations will be completed within six weeks, following which the two Protocols will be signed and submitted to the respective Parliaments for the ratification on each side. Both sides will make their best efforts for the timely progression of the ratification in line with their constitutional and legal procedures.

The normalization of bilateral relations will contribute to the regional peace and stability. The Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey are committed are pursuing their joint efforts with the assistance of Switzerland,” the document reads.