AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENTARIAN: TURKEY SHOULD PERSUADE RUSSIA OF A NEED TO PUT PRESSURE ON ARMENIA
Today
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Jan 14 2010
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani parliamentarian Asim Mollazade says Russia should encourage
Armenia to withdraw from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.
"Turkey, using his credibility and growing economic cooperation
with Russia, should convince Moscow of a need to exert pressure on
Armenia in the Karabakh issue. If Russia is interested in assistance
to Armenia, which happened in a heavy socio-economic situation, it
should encourage it to release the occupied Azerbaijani territory,"
the MP said.
"Turkey has repeatedly stated that ratification of the Armenian-Turkish
protocol depends on liberation of Armenian-occupied regions of
Azerbaijan. Opening of Armenian-Turkish border is beneficial
for Russia, too. But there is still no progress in return of
Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani lands. Once there is progress, it will
open great opportunities for socio-economic cooperation in the region."
"Turkey has raised the issue of opening borders with Armenia both in
talks in Washington and in a dialogue with Moscow to ensure that the
Karabakh conflict permanently remains on the agenda."
"Russia’s interest in opening of borders Turkey’s with its ally Armenia
is attributed to two factors. Firstly, it will get overland route to
Armenia (Russia’s access to Armenia via Georgia is blocked).
Secondly, trade with Turkey will improve dismal socio-economic
situation in Armenia," the MP said.
"The main subject of the Turkey-Russia dialogue is bilateral economic
issues," Oruj said commenting on to what extent relationships between
Ankara and Moscow depend on the energy component.
"The issues of cooperation in the field of energy are central to
Turkey’s relations with Russia. Russia supplies resources to Europe
via Turkey (Blue Stream). Turkey, in turn, uses these resources for its
own consumption and for re-export to other countries," Mollazade said.