28 Sep 2009

Turkey and Armenia to establish diplomatic relations

10:40 am on 28 September 2009

After decades of animosity, Turkey and Armenia are to establish diplomatic relations.

The Turkish prime minister said the agreement would be signed on 10 October.

The BBC reports that until now, Turkey has refused to establish relations with Armenia because of its international campaign to have the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I recognised as genocide.

Armenia says 1.5 million people died. Turkey insists it was not genocide and that that figure is inflated.