Putin, Erdogan discuss stability in region extending from Caucasus to Cyprus

RIA Novosti, Russia
July 18 2005

SOCHI, July 18 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed stability in
the Caucasus, the situation in Iraq and Iran, and the Cyprus problem.
“We focused on the issue of strengthening stability in the Caucasus
and the Black Sea basin,” Putin said at a press conference in Sochi
after talks with the Turkish Prime Minister. Putin gave assurances
that Russia would continue to help resolve the Cyprus problem. “We
are absolutely convinced that the UN Secretary General is moving in
the right direction,” he said.

Putin also said everyone knows how the situation is developing on
Cyprus. “First, we must resolve the problem of the economic isolation
of a part of the island, create conditions for normal relations between
the two parts, and on this basis fully normalize the situation in
the interests of all people living there,” he said.

“We will think about what can be done by Russia and the island’s two
parts to resolve these issues,” the Russian president said.

Putin and Erdogan said it was necessary to address the issue of
Nagorny Karabakh (a mountainous autonomous region within Azerbaijan
historically populated by Armenians, which unilaterally proclaimed
its independence in 1991).

“I was satisfied to hear the Russian position that it was time to
start settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Erdogan said.

He added that at his meeting with Putin he had also discussed the
situation in Iraq, Iran, and anti-terrorism efforts.

“We expressed once again our resolve to fight international terrorists,
who are carrying out attacks against innocent people, defenseless
women and children,” Erdogan said.