Armenia willing to normalize relations with neighboring countries without preconditions - president

YEREVAN. June 19 (Interfax) - Yerevan stands ready to normalize relations with neighboring countries without preconditions, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan said at a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"The Armenian president said at a meeting with the German president in Berlin that Yerevan is firm in its position to reach a stable and lasting peace in the South Caucasus region and is willing to establish good-neighborly and normalized relations with its neighbors without preconditions," the Armenian presidential press service said.

For his part, Steinmeier said that Berlin highly values Yerevan's efforts to achieve peace in the region and attaches importance to Armenia's statement on recognizing Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, which "is an essential step for further normalization of relations."

He also noted that Germany promotes the normalization of Armenia's relations with Turkey.

"Steinmeier said that Germany is interested in a lasting peace in the South Caucasus and will make efforts within its capabilities to facilitate bringing a lasting peace to the region," the Armenian presidential press service said.