Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 19 2009

Turkish and Armenian relations are likely to normalize after solving
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Turkish analyst

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 19 / Trend News R. Hafizoglu /

Turkish and Armenian relations are likely to normalize after solving
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish CNN Turk channel expert Taha
Akyol told media in Baku today.

He said that it is impossible to reach stability in the Caucasian
region without solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were broken in 1993.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due
to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between the two nations has been closed
since 1993.

In addition to the so-called "Armenian genocide" in 1915, Armenia has
voiced territorial claims on Turkish Anatolia.

Akyol said that signing the Turkish-Armenian protocols led to disputes
inside the Armenian Diaspora.

According to the protocols, Armenian must recognize territorial
integrity of regional countries even if the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is not indicated in these documents," Akyol said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly’s
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.