Turkish mass media: The technical work was completed with regard to
the Lachin corridor linking Armenia to Karabakh
2009-11-22 09:44:00
ArmInfo. "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 Hurriyet Daily News
& Economic Review.
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan 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.
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.
"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."
Davutoglu 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 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 Davutoglu, simultaneous rapprochement between Turkey and
Armenia and Armenia and Azerbaijan would be the best formula for
reaching a comprehensive settlement in the southern Caucasus.