TURKEY HOPES OSCE MG TO ASSIST IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION: FM

Trend
July 2 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey hopes the OSCE Minsk Group will soon help to solve the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict which will lead to stability and security
in the region, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu said at a
joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov,
Vesti TV channel reported.

"We are closely following the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chaired by Russia, and hope that it will help to solve the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict," Davudoglu said.

He added that Turkey together with Russia will seek to establish
peace and stability in the Caucasus, which is a region of the
Russian-Turkish interests, so the parties are considering the
possibility of implementing the Caucasus Peace & Stability Platform,
initiated by Turkey.

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.

"Today we have more opportunities to consider the issues in the
Caucasus and Middle East," Davudoglu said.

Russia and Turkey in mid-September 2008, launched a plan to create a
"Platform of security and stability in the Caucasus", which is the
most rapid resolution of territorial conflicts in the region.

In mid-September 2008, Russia and Turkey launched a plan to create the
"Caucasus Security & Stability Platform" which aims to quickly solve
the territorial conflicts in the region.