TURKEY SAYS OPPORTUNITIES EMERGE TO SOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Hurriye
Sept 11 2008
Turkey

Turkey’s president said Wednesday Armenia had changed its approach and
opportunities had emerged to solve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Turkey’s foreign minister held a telephone conversation
with his U.S. counterpart who extended her support to Turkey’s
initiatives. (UPDATED)

Gul told reporters in Ankara following his visits to both Yerevan and
Baku he observed the same honest and sincere desire for a solution
both in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"In Azerbaijan I saw the same frank, honest and sincere desire
for a solution and respect to opponent that I observed in Armenia
earlier. There is a significant opportunity to resolve a long-standing
problem. We need to seize this opportunity. Also, everyone is aware
that if a solution is reached, it paves the way for cooperation in
the region," he said after his return from Azerbaijan where he met
the President Ilham Aliyev.

Gul’s Azerbaijan visit came a while after his landmark visit to
Yerevan. Azerbaijan and Armenia have no diplomatic relations due to
Yerevan’s invasion of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory.

Turkey had proposed the formation of Caucasian alliance to help the
resolution of conflicts through dialogue. Turkey, Russia, Georgia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan are planned to take part in this new formation.

Ankara has intensified its diplomatic efforts for the Caucasus region
as well as the Middle East since the Georgia-Russia war in August.

Gul said Wednesday Armenia had the will to withdraw from the occupied
Azerbaijani territories in case of a final agreement between the
two countries.

"My talks with Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents revealed the
need for exchange of views between the two countries on bilateral,
regional and international developments. Turkey and Azerbaijan have
always advocated that the regional problems should be resolved through
peaceful and diplomatic ways," he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan held a telephone conversation
with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday.

Burak Ozugergin, spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
told the A.A on Thursday that recent developments in the Caucasus
were high on agenda and Babacan informed Rice on his visit to Armenia.

"Babacan reiterated that Turkey extended support to the Minsk process
aiming at finding a solution to the Upper Karabakh dispute between
Azerbaijan and Armenia. He said that such a solution would have a
positive impact on Turkey-Armenia relations. Meanwhile, Rice said that
they would support Turkey’s regional initiatives," Ozugergin added.