TURKISH-ARMENIAN DIALOG TO DRIVE GARABAGH SETTLEMENT ENVOY

AssA-Irada
September 9, 2009 Wednesday
Azerbaijan

Turkeys rapprochement with Armenia may give an incentive to the
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Turkish Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic has said. Kilic told the Baku-based ANS
TV channel that Ankaras ongoing talks with Yerevan will not harm
Azerbaijan, adding that Turkey believes the process would facilitate
liberation of the Armenia-occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The
ambassador noted that Turkey does not want closed borders in the
region, adding that the Caucasus could develop only if they remain
open. Ankara and Yerevan agreed on August 31 to begin discussions on
forging diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations. The two
countries announced they would complete domestic consultations over two
protocols within six weeks. The documents ultimately seek to open the
Turkish-Armenian border, which has been shut since 1993 due to Armenias
policy of occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Armenian claims on
the genocide of their ancestors by Ottoman Turks during World War I.