TURKEY TO NORMALIZE TIES WITH ARMENIA AFTER FULL RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: FM

Today.Az
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Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkey wants to normalize relations with Armenia, but also wants
full normalization of relations in the South Caucasus, including
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Turkey wants to go beyond establishing ties with Armenia and normalize
relations across the South Caucasus, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu told Reuters on Monday.

Davutoglu also spoke of opening the border between Armenia and Turkey’s
Muslim ally Azerbaijan. He did not specify any other borders.

"We want to normalize our relations with Armenia, but we also want
full normalization of relations in the South Caucasus, including
Nagorno-Karabakh," he said.

"This would provide a stable, sustainable peace and stability in our
region. The Caucasus has already suffered a lot from ethnic tension
and frozen conflicts," he said.

"We know very well from our experiences in the Caucasus and Balkans
that frozen conflicts are like bombs in our hands and if we cannot
control them, they could blow up in our hands," the minister said.

"We hope that the international community after this step will focus
on frozen conflicts in the region, especially Nagorno-Karabakh,"
Davutoglu added.