ROUNDTABLE ON "CAUCASUS STABILITY AND COOPERATION PLATFORM" TAKES PLACE

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elnur Mammadli – APA. Atlas research center has organized a
roundtable on "Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform" today,
APA reports. Head of the center Elkhan Shahinoglu made a speech at
the event. He said that Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform
was for the first time initiated by ex-president of Turkey Suleyman
Demirel late in the 90s. But the initiative was not realized, since
the states planned to join the platform did not fully support the
proposal. Shahinoglu said later that proposal was forgotten, but
the issue was raised again by Turkish Prime Minister after the war
between Russia and Georgia. He said Russia’s attitude towards Turkey
had changed. He noted that the relations between Armenia and Turkey
were coming nearer and said Armenian leadership supported those
proposals in words.

"But in actions Armenia has not taken a concrete step in this direction
and it does not seem convincing that it will take any steps in the
next stage, backtrack on its claims in Nagorno Karabakh issue, the
so-called Armenian genocide," he said.

Spokesman for the Turkey’s embassy in Azerbaijan Cem Ornekol said one
of the main targets was stability in the Caucasus. He said points
necessary for peace in the region should be found. The diplomat
said he believed future of the countries joined the platform would
be better and guaranteed. He said the platform’s action directions
were projected now.

Head of the "Inam" pluralism center Vahid Gazi noted that the platform
could bring certain dividends for Armenia, Russia and Georgia. "What
will Azerbaijan benefit from it? It is not expected that Armenia
will withdraw its forces from Azerbaijan. Russia agreed with the
establishing of such platform because it prefers Turkey than NATO to
enter into the Caucasus".

Political scientist Rasim Musabeyov said generally it was a normal
initiative. "I guess that this platform can not achieve solution to
the problems in the Caucasus. It is possible only to hold dialogue
within the platform. Any concrete steps are unbelievable".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress