TURKEY WELCOMES JOINT STATEMENT ON NAGORNY KARABAKH

Xinhua
Nov 6 2008
China

ANKARA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) — Turkey on Wednesday welcomed a joint
statement of Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nov. 2 for a solution on
disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh.

Nagorny Karabakh, a Azerbaijani region with a large Armenian
population, declared independence from Baku in the early 1990s and
has been a hotspot since then.

On Nov. 2, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan met for talks near
Moscow and inked a joint declaration calling on the two sides to
"continue their work… to agree on a political settlement to the
Nagorny Karabakh conflict."

Turkey welcomed the joint statement, which said the parties targeted a
solution through direct dialogue based on internationallaw. The parties
also agreed to continue work, including during further contacts on
a high level, said a statement of Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Turkey supported a peaceful solution to Nagorny Karabakh through
dialogue that would be accepted by both parties, said the statement,
adding that Turkey will continue to work with the related parties
for the solution of Nagorny Karabakh issue, which poses an important
threat to security and stability of the region.