UN General Assembly
2008

challenges, countries should work together to prevent the further deterioration of the situation and to implement the sustainable development agenda. Otherwise, we will jeopardize our collective efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Neighbouring States have always had and will continue to have problems with each other. However, those problems cannot be solved if there is no 08-51845 10 dialogue. With that in mind, and taking advantage of a football game between our national teams, I invited the President of Turkey to Yerevan. I welcomed the bold decision of President Gül to accept the invitation, which made him my co-author in the “football diplomacy” initiative. We discussed an array of bilateral and regional issues. The most important outcome was our decision not to leave current problems to future generations. I am confident that the time has come to solve Armenian-Turkish problems, and on that issue I observed a similar resolve on the part of President Gül. I am certain that it is necessary to move fast and resolutely in that direction. The events of the past few weeks shocked the