Trend, Azerbaijan
Aug 10 2009

Russian-Turkish proximity to contribute in solution of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Turkish FM

The Russian-Turkish proximity will contribute in solution of the
[Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davudoglu told Turkish TV channel KANAL7, Anadolu news
agency said.

The Russian-Turkish proximity will undoubtedly contribute in the
solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without any doubt, Davudoglu
said.

During his visit to Turkey Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
stated the serious and active work for the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish news agencyANADOLUreported.

"Serious work is being done to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and there is serious progress in this direction. Moscow is eager to
see rapid resolution of the conflict," Putin added.

The prime minister said that Russia’s position on the solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remained unchanged. "We cannot do the job of
conflict sides, but only assist in the solution to the dispute," he
added.

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.

Recently Russia has taken positive steps for the solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Davudoglu added.