Turkish foreign minister confirms direct talks with Armenian officials

Turkish and Armenian officials have been holding direct talks to boost dialogue between two neighboring countries, the foreign minister said on Friday. Hurriyet daily reported on Friday that Turkish and Armenian officials had met in Switzerland on July 8. "Turkey is a country which recognizes Armenia. We hold meetings and consultations with our Armenian interlocutors from time to time," Ali Babacan told in a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart, when asked about Hurriyet's report. Turkey and Armenia held a series of secret meetings in the capital of Switzerland on July 8. A high-level official from the Foreign Ministry headed the Turkish delegation during the talks which led to a positive atmosphere between the two countries, according to a report in Hurriyet daily. This meeting came after Armenian President... [read full story]