TURKEY TO HOLD TALKS WITH ARMENIA ON PROPOSED CAUCASIAN UNION PROJECT

Hurriyet
Aug 20 2008
Turkey

Turkey has sped up its efforts on works to form a stability and
partnership forum in the Caucasus and plans to hold talks with
neighboring Armenia, which Ankara has no diplomatic relations for
more than a decade. Armenia welcomed Turkey’s plan to launch talks,
Interfax reported. (UPDATED)

"The talks would also be held with Armenia. The foreign minister
(Ali Babacan) would meet his Russian counterpart (Sergei Lavrov) this
week to hold talks. After those talks, the format of the contacts
with Armenia would be shaped," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
told reporters.

There is no diplomatic relations between two countries, as Armenia
presses the international community to admit the so-called "genocide"
claims instead of accepting Turkey’s call to investigate the
allegations, and its invasion of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory
despite U.N. Security Council resolutions on the issue.

Armenia welcomed Turkey’s plans to launch talks, Interfax
said. "Armenia has always advocated dialog and talks, especially over
issues of cooperation and security in our region," Armenian Foreign
Minister Edvard Nalbandian said in answer to questions from a Turkish
newspaper, according to the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press service.

Erdogan pays a visit to Azerbaijan to discuss his proposal of a
forming a Caucasian union with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.

Turkey had proposed the formation of the "Caucasian Stability and
Partnership Platform" to resolve the disputed issues in the region
through diplomacy and to enhance economic ties after the clashes that
erupted between Russian and Georgian forces.

Erdogan said the proposal was welcomed by both the Russian and Georgian
leaders. "The recent situation in Georgia had confirmed the urgent
need of ensuring peace, trust and stability in the Caucasus. We as
Turkey have crucial interest in doing that," he added.

The United States has not been informed about such an initiative,
Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs told on Tuesday. He added he was surprised by
Turkey’s efforts.