The New Anatolian, Turkey
Nov 11 2006
Poland seeks to mediate between Turkey, Armenia
The New Anatolian / Warsaw
Polish Senate Chairman Bogdan Borusevic on Friday requested to
mediate between Ankara and Yerevan, through representing Armenia in
Turkey and vice versa until the two countries normalize their
relations.
Speaking to reporters following his contacts in Baku, Azerbaijan,
Borusevic stressed that the Polish initiative aims at easing tensions
and strengthening trust between Turkey and Armenia, noting his
country’s good relations with both countries.
"Although the border between Turkey and Armenia is closed, there are
limited and indirect economic relations between them," he said.
"There is the need to establish the appropriate atmosphere to solve
the problems. Therefore, the Polish Foreign Ministry has requested to
represent the interests of Armenia in Turkey and Turkey in Armenia.
We are awaiting replies." He also underlined the need for a positive
stance from both sides for the Polish initiative to succeed.
Borusevic also touched on the situation of Nagorno-Karabakh, saying,
"Poland thinks that the problem of the disputed enclave should be
solved through peaceful means through protecting the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan."
Praising the efforts of Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group towards finding a peaceful solution to the
dispute in Nagorno-Karabakh, Borusevic said, "They are bringing
apparent suggestions and direct parties about what kind of steps
should be taken."
The disputed territory in Azerbaijan has been under the control of
Armenian and ethnic Armenian Karabakh forces since a 1994 cease-fire
ended a six-year separatist war that killed about 30,000 people and
drove about 1 million from their homes. The region’s final status has
not been worked out, and years of talks under the auspices of
international mediators have brought few visible results.