Trend, Azerbaijan
June 13 2009
Resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict crucial for tranquility in
S.Caucasus: Turkish FM
13.06.09 12:01
United States, Washington, June 13 /Trend News, N.Bogdanova / Turkish
foreign minister says progress must be reached in the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to normalize situation in the South
Caucasus.
"There is a need for progress and development in the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to normalize situation in the region. All
sides must work in this direction," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad
Davudoglu said in an exclusive interview with Trend News.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace
negotiations. OSCE also holds regular monitoring on contact line of
troops to ensure ceasefire.
"We want to further normalize bilateral ties as a part of our good
neighbor policy," Davudoglu said.
The minister said the Turkey-Armenia bilateral ties are not only
limited with the South Caucasus, but they impact
Turkey-U.S. relations. "This is not right. Our relations with Armenia
must not influence our relations with the U.S.," he said.
The 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.
Representatives of Turkish opposition accuse authorities of intentions
to open borders with Armenia under Washington’s pressure. Azerbaijan
is concerned about it. However, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said during a visit to Baku on May 12-13 that Turkey will not
cooperate with Armenia until Azerbaijan’s occupied lands are
liberated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
