Turkey-Armenia accord won’t harm Azerbaijan

Associated Press Worldstream

April 29, 2009 Wednesday 6:12 PM GMT

PRAGUE

Turkey’s president says a possible accord to normalize ties between
Turkey and Armenia would benefit Azerbaijan.

Abdullah Gul also says a reconciliation would stabilize the entire
Caucasus region.

Gul spoke Wednesday in Prague after meeting Czech President Vaclav
Klaus.

Azerbaijan is disturbed by Turkey’s and Armenia’s recent efforts toward
reconciliation, which could lead to the reopening of their joint border.

Turkey closed the border in a show of support to Azerbaijan, which is
in conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Turkey said last week the two countries bitterly divided over
Ottoman-era killings of ethnic Armenians agreed on a roadmap for
normalizing relations and reaching reconciliation.