YEREVAN. – The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015 will be a chance for Turkey to normalize relations with Armenia. 2015 will be an important year both for Armenia and Turkey, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern told Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman.

“I hope that Turkey and Armenia will find a way to make 2015… part of a creative process. 2015 is to be a sensitive year. That is why it will be possible to bring together two nations,” Heffern said.

According to the US envoy, 2015 must not be a year of victories or defeats. Heffern told Today’s Zaman that Armenian – Turkish relations are important not only for the involved countries but also for the United States. The ambassador called the countries to take measures in three directions.

“The first step is ratification and realization of the protocols which is the most important step. The USA hopes that both countries will ratify and realize the protocols which have already been signed,” John Heffern said.

According to him, the United States will not cease supporting the protocols. The second step is development of economic relations and opening the railway between Kars and Gyumri. The third is cross border exchanges of reporters, students and businessmen.

“I know that Armenian – Turkish relations are very emotional and sensitive, but the USA hopes that these three steps will be accepted,” Heffern concluded.

Heffern also touched upon the recent events on the Armenian – Azerbaijani border line.

“Nagorno-Karabakh is really an important issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The recent clashes on the Armenian – Azerbaijani border prove that the Karabakh conflict is a very important issue and that the status quo is not acceptable for both sides,” Heffern said.

According to the U.S. envoy, there is no other solution than peaceful settlement of the conflict.