WE ARE WILLING TO NORMALIZE TIES WITH ARMENIA: TURKISH FM

Today.Az
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June 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davudoglu said a press conference in
Washington that he wants Turkey-Armenia relations to be normalized,
Cihan reported.

"We are willing to normalize ties with neighbor countries including
Armenia as a part of the bilateral cooperation in an effort to ensure
peace and stability," Davudoglu said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia’s
claims of an alleged genocide, and the country’s occupation of 20
percent of Azerbaijani lands.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon
the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan to watch
an Armenia-Turkey football match.

Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two countries
ever since.

Different circles in Turkish public claim that Turkey will re-open
borders with Armenia. However, Turkish Prime Minister said during
his visit to Baku on May 12-13 that Turkey will not cooperate with
Armenia until Azerbaijan’s occupied lands are liberated.

Davudoglu added that problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be
eliminated to ensure lasting pace in the South Caucasus. "Everyone
must do utmost to ensure peace in the Caucasus," he said.

The foreign minister did not comment on opening of Turkey-Armenia
border.