Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Nov 20 2009

Turkey eyes progress in Karabakh to move forward with Armenia

Friday, November 20, 2009
SERKAN DEMÄ°RTAÅ?
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

Armenian President Serge Sarkisian (R) shakes hands with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev during their meeting in October.
AFP photo

Turkey has said it is hopeful that Armenia and Azerbaijan will make
progress toward resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
facilitating an imminent normalization of relations between regional
foes Ankara and Yerevan.

`The technical work was completed with regard to the corridors linking
Armenia to Karabakh. We are informed of the progress [regarding the
negotiations],’ a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News
& Economic Review.

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serge Sarkisian and Ilham
Aliyev, are expected to meet Sunday at the French consulate in Munich,
Germany. It will be the eighth presidential meeting since Turkey and
Armenia began reconciliatory talks.

In addition to this meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu
and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian are also expected to
meet in Athens, Greece, on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of
the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols Oct. 10 but have not yet
initiated ratification of them at either parliament. Turkey submitted
the protocols to its Parliament, but Armenia is still trying to pass
them through the constitutional court. `I do not think that one could
press Turkey at this moment when Armenia has still not submitted them
to parliament,’ the senior diplomat said.

For Turkey, the condition to go ahead with the protocols is progress
in the Nagorno-Karabakh talks.

`There are important developments,’ the senior diplomat said, adding
that a technical delegation had completed an exploration of the Lachin
Corridor, a mountain pass within the official borders of Azerbaijan
that is the shortest route connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.
`Its status and how to provide its security are important matters to
be solved.’

DavutoÄ?lu held a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov last week and was informed about the
talks. The co-chairmen of the OSCE’s Minsk Group held meetings last
week in Yerevan and Baku. Mammadyarov is expected to pay a visit to
Ankara next month.

`The public is aware that there will be no further steps taken unless
there is progress on the Karabakh issue,’ DavutoÄ?lu said Tuesday at
Parliament while defending his ministry’s budget. `We are now
expecting concrete results [out of the negotiations].’

The three things Turkey expects are the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from the seven regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh province and
the return of the Azerbaijani people who were expelled from their
homeland; clearer definition of the status of the corridor and how its
security would be assured; and, lastly, the reaching of an interim
agreement.

For Turkish diplomats, there are no additional obstacles before the
two parties being able to shake hands in the near future. `Talking
about deadlines is not always productive, but everyone is aware of the
need to accelerate the process,’ another Turkish diplomat said.

`Who knows, maybe Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan will be
opened simultaneously,’ the diplomat added.

According to DavutoÄ?lu, simultaneous rapprochement between Turkey and
Armenia and Armenia and Azerbaijan would be the best formula for
reaching a comprehensive settlement in the southern Caucasus.