GUL MEETS WITH AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Turkish Press, Turkey
Feb 11 2005

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his visiting Azeri
counterpart Elmar Mammedyarov in Ankara. The Azerbaijan-Armenian
dispute over the latter’s occupation of upper Karabakh dominated the
two top diplomats’ talks. Gul pledged that the Turkish-Armenian border
gate would remain closed until Armenia ends its occupation, adding,
“Our bilateral ties with Armenia can be normalized when the occupation
ends.” Bilateral economic relations, including energy ventures, were
also taken up. In addition, Gul sought Baku’s backing for ending the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) international isolation. He
urged Mammedyarov to become a model for other countries to take steps
towards that end. /Star/