U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton engaged in last-minute diplomacy on Saturday aimed at salvaging an accord to establish diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia after a century of enmity, AP reported. The agreement was supposed to be signed by the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers at a reception in the Swiss city of Zurich, with Clinton among the world dignitaries in attendance. But a dispute over the statements the countries would make sparked a delay, and forced her to intervene. «She's involved in working out an agreeable text,» said a senior U.S. State Department official. «She's talking with the Armenian foreign minister, and she had a long talk with the Turkish foreign minister.» U.S. officials said Clinton and the Armenian delegation were on the way to the signing ceremony, about 90 minutes after it was supposed to begin. Clinton had abruptly returned to her hotel just before the scheduled start as problems emerged. Diplomats said the Armenians were concerned about wording in the Turkish statement that was to be made after the signing ceremony. The Turks and Armenians are to sign an accord establishing diplomatic ties in hope of reopening their border and ending a century of acrimony over their bloody past. -- SPA
