ERDOGAN’S VISIT TO U.S. SHATTERED ARMENIA’S HOPES: POLITICAL ANALYST
N. Abdullayeva

Today.Az
08 December 2009 [13:52]

"It is praiseworthy that while in Washington Turkish prime minister
focused on resolution of the Karabakh conflict and updated it in
its negotiations with the U.S.," Azerbaijani political expert Fikrat
Sadigov said. He was commenting on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to Washington.

"It is somewhat surprising that Turkish prime minister reacted to
resolution of the Karabakh conflict a bit late. This issue should
have been largely talked about in the period of signing of the Zurich
protocols. On the other hand, Turkey’s willingness to quickly resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict helps to deepen the Azerbaijani-Turkish
relations," Sadigov said.

"Of course, the fact that Erdogan raised the issue of Karabakh in
Washington points to importance of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. But this does not mean that after Erdogan’s statements
the U.S. will immediately make relevant conclusions. I am hopeful
that Washington will listen to the Turkish ministers’s words to some
extent," he added.

"Prior to Erdogan’s visit to Washington, Armenia had high hopes that
by signing the protocols with Turkey, it will step over Azerbaijan’s
interests, achieve ratification of the protocols and thus leave behind
settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. But I think this visit
shattered Armenia’s hopes.

"I think that Armenians have understood that even if some people
in Turkey want to take this step, this is impossible. Because the
regional security in general is impossible without settling the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Washington should first and foremost
understand this as its interests are deeply connected with the South
Caucasus region," Sadigov said.