ABDULLAH GUL: "RUSSIA HAS THE LEADING ROLE IN THE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

APA
Feb 12 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. "Russia has the leading role in the
peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Alongside with all other factors, Russia is the co-chair of OSCE
Minsk Group," Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on the eve of his
state visit to Russia, APA reports quoting vesti.ru website.Abdullah
Gul said they attached great importance to the trilateral meeting of
Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Moscow that resulted
in the adoption of the Declaration on the peaceful solution to Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

"Any positive improvement in the settlement of Karabakh conflict
immediately influences all the countries of the region. Any negative
turning point has negative influence on all the players of the region,"
he said.

Touching on the relations with Armenia Abdullah Gul said Turkey had
been seeking ways to normalize relations with that country and was
using any opportunity of dialogue. The president mentioned the match
of Turkish and Armenian national teams within the framework of the
world football championship qualifying.

"I went to Armenia and watched the match together with my Armenian
counterpart. Following the match, I had a very efficient meeting with
President Sarkisian. I am very glad that the dialogue, which began
in Yerevan, continues," he said.

Abdullah Gul considers that his visit to Yerevan did not only start
the normalization of the relations between Turkey and Armenia, but
also will serve the normalization of the relations between Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

"I want to express my deep gratitude to Russia for doing its best to
undo these difficult knots," he said.