FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKEY BELIEVES IN RUSSIA’S ABILITY TO SOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Azerbaijan Business Center
May 5 2009

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. NATO organization men reports of Russia’s
decisive influence on settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

NATO senior civil officer in Afghanistan Hikmet Chetin (former Foreign
Minister of Turkey) said today in Baku that there is a demand for
Russia’s wider participation in settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

"Russia is an important country in the region that represents an
essential regional factor, so it needs to join the Caucasian Stability
Pact offered by Turkey," Chetin said.

The Pact’s reality disappeared last August when Russia recognized
independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in response to Georgia’s
attempt on their coercive reintegration.

"There are important gleams for Karabakh conflict solution seen in
Russia’s policy. I think Russia would contribute a lot to the conflict
solution. I see the world starting to be interested in the conflict
more and more. I am sure the conflict could find a solution through
the dialogue between the two countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia,"
Chetin added.

In his view, the consequences of conflict’s pendency influence all
of the sides, including Armenia, in a negative way, in the economic
regard.

"There are important pipelines passing through the region, hydrocarbon
fields, however, Armenia is left outside the projects. In future
the region will keep playing an important role in providing sales
markets with oil and gas. Armenia needs to understand the importance
of conflict solution since the region has a demand for security and
peace to be provided. And this peace is to be provided by solving the
Karabakh problem. I believe that at the nearest meeting Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia will make important steps towards the problem
solution. In my opinion, wider participation of the United States,
NATO, Russia and Turkey in this matter would be useful." Chetin stated.