AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
March 20 2010

Turkish minister says Garabagh settlement feasible

20-03-2010 07:23:25

If Bosnia, Herzegovina and Serbia have managed to narrow their
differences after a large-scale war, there is a chance that Azerbaijan
and Armenia may reestablish peace as well, Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davudoglu was quoted by Turkish Hurriyyet newspaper as saying.
Davudoglu said the conflict involving Bosnia, Herzegovina and Serbia
was of greater proportions than Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, but the
parties succeeded in normalizing their relations nonetheless. He said
Armenia was still accusing Turkey of supporting Azerbaijan and
refusing to discuss ways of Garabagh settlement with Ankara.
The minister added that if Turkey have managed to improve relations
with the Serbs after centuries of stand-off, it is also possible with
the Armenians. `Our confrontation with the Serbs dates back to the
1300s, while our problem with Armenians is only a century old. We have
never lived together with the Serbs, but we have with the Armenians.
However, we revised our relations with the Serbs in just one year even
though we were at war with them for a thousand years. I met with my
Serbian counterpart 11 times over a six-month period.’
The diplomat said further that thanks to the Turks the relations
between Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina improved, while Bosnia even
sent an ambassador to Serbia. Davudoglu said Turkey had been in talks
with Serbia and Bosnia for six months. `Why can’t we do the same with
Azerbaijan and Armenia?’
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the
signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper
Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of
international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless
so far.*