AFTER WHITE HOUSE MEETING, ERDOGAN SAYS TURKEY-ARMENIA TIES CONNECTED TO KARABAKH

Asbarez
Dec 7th, 2009

WASHINGTON (Combined Sources)-Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan told reporters after his meeting with President Obama that
the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations was contingent on the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

According to Erdogan, the US and Turkish leaders discussed relations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"This is important in the context of relations between Turkey and
Armenia," he said, adding that the two also discussed the Karabakh
conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

On the issue of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, Obama said Erdogan
had been "courageous" in his efforts to normalize the decades-old
resentment and bitterness.

Obama and Erdogan were also reported to have discussed Iran. According
to Reuters, Obama said on Monday that Turkey could be an "important
player" in efforts to resolve the long-running dispute over Iran’s
nuclear program.

The US President made the statement during a White House meeting with
Erdogan, who said his country stands ready to do whatever it can to
achieve a diplomatic solution to the issue.

Obama said he had stressed the importance of resolving the dispute "in
a way that allows Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy, but provides
assurances that it will abide by international rules and norms."

"I believe that Turkey can be an important player in trying to move
Iran in that direction," the president was quoted as saying by AFP.

Obama also praised Turkey for its role in Afghanistan, where it has
some 1,700 troops.