Yerevan, Armenia, April 16, SPA --Armenia and Turkey said todaythey are close to restoring full relations after 15 yearsof disagreements over claims of genocide against Armeniansunder Ottoman rule, AP reported. NATO-member Turkey and Armenia, a former Soviet republic,also hope to reopen their shared border, closed in 1993 _ agoal encouraged by the European Union and the UnitedStates. «We could be very close to settling the issue in the nearfuture,» Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian saidafter holding talks with Turkish counterpart Ali Babacanduring a Black Sea economic conference in Yerevan. Babacan said Turkish leaders want an «all-encompassing»solution and «full normalization» of ties, according tocomments broadcast by Turkey's NTV television after hereturned to Ankara. Both sides said they had made progress during Thursday'stalks. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/655312