NORMALIZATION OF TURKISH-ARMENIA RELATIONS TO HELP NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Hurriyet
Dec 1 2008
Turkey
The normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations would help to resolve
the longstanding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said during a visit to
Baku. (UPDATED)
"The normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations would have a positive
impact on the Azerbaijan-Armenia talks over Nagorno-Karabakh," he
was quoted by AFP as saying at a press conference following his talks
with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.
The Turkish foreign minister said problems should be solved through
diplomacy and peaceful means.
"Some of the territories of Azerbaijan are under the occupation of
Armenia, which is an important problem that needs to be solved,"
the Anatolian Agency quoted him as saying.
"Our goal is not to leave a problem to future generations, but to
leave a better and more prosperous Caucasus that lives in peace and
order," he said.
Babacan said that it was difficult to ensure real peace and stability
in the Caucasus as long as problems were not solved. "A real welfare
can be ensured after real peace and stability are assured," he said.
He added Turkey would always stand by Azerbaijan in the region.
Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties and their border has
been closed for more than a decade over Armenia’s aggression over
Azerbaijan.
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began in 1988 on Armenian
territorial claims over Azerbaijan. Since 1992 Armenian Armed Forces
have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts.
Some 10 percent of the Azeri population was displaced due to a
series of bloody clashes both between and within the two neighboring
countries.
In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
Mammadyarov told the conference that Babacan and he agreed to continue
talks on Turkey’s proposal to set up a platform on stability and
cooperation in the Caucasus.
Babacan also met Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Oktay Esadov and
President Ilham Aliyev. He is scheduled to also have a meeting with
Prime Minister Artur Rasizade.
Babacan’s visit came amid a push by Turkey for more influence in the
volatile Caucasus region after a bloody conflict between Russia and
Georgia in August.
After the conflict, Ankara proposed creating a new forum for
cooperation in the region, which Babacan called for regional
governments to support.
"All the countries of the region must sit at the bargaining table,"
he said.
But Azerbaijani media and some officials have raised concerns that
Ankara’s recent overtures to Yerevan could see it re-open the border
and lift its embargo, easing international pressure on Armenia to give
up control of Karabakh and other territories seized from Azerbaijan,
AFP reported.
HELSINKI MEETINGS Babacan said that he would meet Azerbaijani and
Armenian foreign ministers in Helsinki at a meeting of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) this week.
Before his departure for Azerbaijan late Sunday, Babacan told reporters
in Ankara that he would hold talks in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku and
then proceed to Brussels for a NATO ministerial meeting.
The Turkish foreign minister said he would later travel to Finland’s
capital Helsinki for a meeting of the OSCE from Brussels.
"There is an ongoing process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. And also
there is a parallel process between Turkey and Armenia," Babacan was
quoted by Anatolian Agency as saying.
"Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers will come together on the
sidelines of an OSCE meeting together with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,"
he added.
"Following this meeting, I will have separate meetings with the two
ministers," he also said.
Babacan is expected to discuss crucial issues, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the normalization of relations between
Turkey and Armenia with his Azeri and Armenian counterparts.
The Turkish foreign minister also said there was no date set for a
tripartite meeting of the ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.