NKR OFFICIAL CASTS DOUBTS ON TURKEY’S REGIONAL PLATFORM DRIVE

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Sept 11 2008
Armenia

Stepanakert, 11 September: Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR] foreign
minister Gerogi Petrosyan thinks that given the current situation the
Nagornyy Karabakh issue will not be settled soon due to its complexity.

Petrosyan made the statement after the round table discussion,
titled "Situation in South Caucasus: Prospects of NKR international
recognition," at the NKR National Assembly [parliament], attended by
the leaders of parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties.

Responding to a question on Turkey’s initiative to be a mediator in
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement process, Petrosyan said
that Turkey’s initiative is "the hottest topic that Armenians have
been discussing". He added that the initiative contradicts the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairmanship in some sense. "Which initiative should
prevail in this rapidly changing situation or would they be combined
is not clear for anyone, to be frank," Petrosyan said. He said that
Turkey’s initiative to set up a platform of stability and security in
the region does not envisage including the European Union, the USA,
Iran and other countries interested. "But how is it possible to ensure
full-fledged security in the region today if countries having serious
interests in the region are left out? This is a question that should
be discussed by all sides," he added.