TURKISH POLITICAL SCIENTIST SAYS ARMENIANS WILL LEAVE AZERBAIJAN’S LANDS

news.az
Nov 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Arif Keskin "Negotiations on Karabakh will be effective if pressure
is imposed on Armenia.

In this sense, yesterday’s meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with
Russian leader Dmitri Medveyev and the upcoming meeting of Turkish
Premier Erdogan and US President Barack Obama will be important",
said Arif Keskin, analyst of the Turkish Center of International Ties
and Strategic Analysis and professor of the 21st century University.

According to the political scientist, Turkey should use all
opportunities to attain progress in the Karabakh issue at the upcoming
meeting between Erdogan and Obama.

"Erdogan should explain to Obama that stability in the Caucasus is
impossible without progress in the Karabakh issue. If Erdogan is
able to bind the processes of border opening with Armenia, return
of a part of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, I think it will be
an appropriate variant. Everyone including Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Turkey would benefit. But time will show whether Armenians are ready
to such developments. Azerbaijan is important for Turkey and I think
Ankara will not risk its relations with Baku and by results of the
Washington meetings we will witness certain progress. If Moscow,
Washington and Brussels impose pressure on Armenia in this issue,
by the beginning of 2010 we will witness the opening of borders and
withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan",
he said.

"Ilham Aliyev’s statement before the Munich meeting must make western
leaders think over their further policy in the region. If West and
Russia really want peace and do not want instability in the region,
they should persuade Armenia that continued occupation of Azerbaijani
lands will cause harm to it", Keskin said.