TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN TALK UP TIES AFTER ARMENIA VISIT

Agence France Presse
Sept 10 2008

Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham
Aliyev on Wednesday stressed "friendly relations" following Gul’s
visit to Azerbaijan’s arch-enemy Armenia last week.

"The development of friendly relations was underlined during the
meeting, as well as the importance of expanding bilateral ties in
order to strengthen regional cooperation," Aliyev’s office said in
a statement.

Gul travelled to Azerbaijan after having made his historic visit to
neighbouring Armenia, which has traditionally tense ties with both
Azerbaijan and Turkey, in a bid to boost Ankara’s diplomatic role in
the region.

NATO member Turkey is pushing for the creation of a regional forum
to boost cooperation in the Caucasus after tensions between Georgia,
another Caucasus country, and Russia erupted in a military conflict
last month.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress