AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2009

Ankara-Yerevan rapprochement to allow Garabagh settlement: CE chief

20-11-2009 06:59:40

Thorbjorn Jagland, the Council of Europe (CE) Secretary General, has
said he welcomes Turkey-Armenia rapprochement and hopes the process of
mending their strained ties will allow to resolve the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
The remarks came following the ceremony of transferring CE Committee
of Ministers chairmanship to Switzerland from Slovenia. Jagland told a
press conference with the two countries’ foreign ministers that his
organization was ready to facilitate reconciliation efforts if Ankara
and Yerevan seek assistance.
`So far, we have not been approached over this issue. Both countries
are Council of Europe members, and this fact alone is important for
both sides as well as for the process of normalizing relations,’ the
CE chief added.
Following decades of hostility, Turkey and Armenia signed protocols on
October 10 to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their borders.
The agreement has raised concerns in Azerbaijan, which faces a
long-standing conflict with Armenia. However, Turkey has assured
Azerbaijan, its ally, that the protocols will not pass in its
parliament until progress is made in resolving the Garabagh conflict.*