Armenia-Turkey rapprochement is significant for the entire region, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.

According to him, the restoration of Armenian-Turkish relations is a complex task, Vesti.ru reports. Russia is closely following the developments and hopes that the positive impetus given in Zurich, namely the signing of the Protocols, will be followed by further steps, Medvedev said.

The processes are complicated and elicit varied responses both in Turkey and in Armenia, as the problem has not been settled for obvious reasons. Medvedev expressed hope the sides will eventually find the necessary solutions and restore full-scale relations.

Medvedev also underlined that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will further regional stability and development of economic relations and, consequently, increase standards of living in all regional states. “Thus, we welcome the process and will thoroughly follow it, using all possibilities of the Russian Federation,” he concluded.

A.G.