Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Feb 12 2010

Turkish foreign minister, Kazakh leaders discuss Karabakh solution

Astana, 12 February: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
Kazakhstan might step in for the solution of the Nagornyy Karabakh
issue, as the chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE).

Davutoglu who is on an official visit to Kazakhstan told AA that he
was confident that Kazakhstan would take important steps for the
solution of the Nagornyy Karabakh issue between Azerbaijan and
Armenia.

Davutoglu said they discussed the issue with his Kazakh counterpart
Kanat Saudabayev and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"As far as I know Mr. Saudabayev will be visiting both Baku and
Yerevan in the days to come. We communicated our position to them.
Kazakhstan may make significant contributions regarding Nagornyy
Karabakh issue. We are hopeful about the term ahead" said Davutoglu.

Referring to the remarks made by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at
a conference in London, refusing to take any steps for the solution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh issue, and calling on Turkey to reveal its
intention, Davutoglu said Turkey’s made its intention clear to all
parties.

"Turkey will support all steps taken toward the establishment of
peace," said Davutoglu.

Sargsyan had said during his address at a conference Wednesday in
London that Turkey set forth the Nagornyy Karabakh issue as a
precondition for the approval of the normalization protocols with
Armenia, adding that such an attitude jeopardized both the Nagornyy
Karabakh issue and the normalization of relations with Turkey.

Commenting on the recent raw between Iran and the international
community, Davutoglu said he wanted to visit Iran next Tuesday,
signalling a Turkish initiative for mediation.

"We are ready to do everything within our reach for overcoming the
current tension through peaceful means," said Davutoglu.

Davutoglu who also commented on the Cyprus issue reiterated Turkey’s
stance in support of a lasting solution, said they did not want
settlement talks to be interrupted.