PRESIDENT OF TURKEY: I HOPE THAT NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA WILL BE SOLVED THROUGH DIALOGUE, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RECIPROCAL VISITS
ArmInfo
2008-09-11 14:13:00
ArmInfo. President of Turkey Abdullah Gul informed his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilham Aliyev about his visit to Armenia in details. As
the Azerbaijani mass media report, A. Gul told about it at
a press-conference upon the results of yesterday’s meeting with
I. Aliyev in Baku.
"After Georgia developments, we, as statesmen and leaders, must
thoroughly and correctly analyze the situation and demonstrate a
strong will. I hope that Nagorno- Karabakh problem between Azerbaijan
and Armenia will be solved through dialogue, mutual understanding
and reciprocal visits. We believe that there is a new opportunity
to settle this problem, which has remained unsolved for the past 17
years. From this point of view, I left Armenia with optimism. Sure, the
problem will be solved through meetings", the Turkish president said
and continued: "Quick release of the occupied lands will, certainly,
become an important step, and with establishment of peace and security
in region we shall reach very effective economic cooperation.
Pipelines, railway, on which we had comprehensive talk, will envelope
the entire Caucasus region. It is, therefore, necessary to properly
estimate the new opportunities and not to continue the "frozen
conflicts", but to solve them. I am hopeful that there is a new chance
to solve the question. I am of opinion that the countries of region
will estimate this in better form and prefer peaceful way. Either
way, there are resolutions of the United Nations to be considered,
and finally, not enmity, but friendship will overcome. The entire
region, all peoples will benefit of this. It is therefore important
to work with good intention, and I am convinced that the world will
also hail and support this".
For his part, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said: "We want
that this occupation was put an end. We want to solve the question
peacefully. And therefore, despite the 15- years long unsuccessful
negotiations, we, as earlier, adhere to peaceful settlement. But, it
is clear that settlement of the problem should exclusively base on the
norms and principles of international law. Territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan should be restored, the armed forces of Armenia withdrawn
from the occupied lands, and one million of refugees and IDPs return
to their homelands".
"Thus, should we reach this, then, completely a new situation
will occur in region: cooperation, stability, and new economic and
political initiatives, open communications. In short, in region, peace
will be secured, and development will go faster. To tell the truth,
today, economy of Turkey and Azerbaijan is so strong that nothing is
able to impede our successful progress. And if we shall solve the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict – I am hopeful for –
then, of course, development of all countries will speed up. Each
country will benefit of it. We stand for this. We aspire that in
region there was maintained peace, tranquility and all countries of
region could establish civil contacts with each other. I restate:
to do this, we merely need the will and wise steps of the political
leaders of Armenia. And, I and esteemed Abdullah Gul, adhere the
opinion that the new leadership of Armenia will continue efforts
to solve the problem. There are positive and certain factors, and
hopeful information. Evidently, I would not take the lead over the
happenings, but we look to future with growing optimism. I would
believe that thanks to the efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and
other countries we shall achieve establishment of peace in region",
I. Aliyev said.