TURKISH PREMIER VOWS TO PROTECT AZERI INTERESTS OVER CONTESTED KARABAKH REGION

Anadolu Agency
May 13 2009
Turkey

BAKU (A.A) – 13.05.2009 – Turkish premier sought to ease on Wednesday
Azeri concerns over what is seen as a Turkish-Armenian raprochement
as Azerbaijan fears that would weaken its leverage on the disputed
region of Upper Karabakh.

"We have not taken any step which would hurt Azerbaijan’s national
interests and we will not. We have never ignored the well-being
and interests of the Azeri people and we will not," Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Azeri lawmakers at the National Assembly
in capital Baku.

Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a six-year war over Upper Karabakh in
Azerbaijan. The region has been occupied by Armenia since a 1994
cease-fire, but is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Turkey cut all diplomatic ties with Armenia after the occupation, and
a border gate between the two countries has remained closed since then.

"All countries in the region know very well that it is impossible to
maintain normal relations unless the occupation of Azeri territories
is over. Peace and stability cannot be restored in the South Caucasus
unless progress is made with regard to the Upper Karabakh," Erdogan
said.

"Our only goal is to create proper circumstances where the Upper
Karabakh problem is resolved on the basis of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity as we make progress in the normalization of relations
between Turkey and Armenia," Erdogan said.