TURKEY SHOULD ‘TAKE CREDIT’ FOR DIPLOMATIC EFFORT ON KARABAKH

news.az
April 15 2010
Azerbaijan

Political scientist Vafa Guluzade has welcomed reports that Barack
Obama will do his utmost to solve the Karabakh problem.

‘It is very encouraging that the president of a great power such as
the United States gives a firm guarantee that he will do everything
possible to resolve the Karabakh problem. The good news is the fact
that US officials say they are working together to solve this problem.

I had fragile hopes for the solution of the Karabakh problem, but
after these statements I have grown optimistic,’ political scientist
Vafa Guluzade told 1news.az.

On Tuesday US President Barack Obama met Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan in Washington. According to Turkish diplomatic sources,
Obama promised Erdogan to spare no effort for the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict, but no mention of this was made in the official
White House report of the meeting.

Guluzade said that Turkey should take the credit for the diplomatic
effort over Karabakh. ‘All of these diplomatic efforts over the
Karabakh problem have emerged thanks to Turkey. We should be grateful
to Turkey for their protection of our interests. Ankara has once again
proved that friendly relations with Azerbaijan are more important to
it than all other issues.’

The analyst noted that even if Armenia agreed to a solution of
the Karabakh problem, the process would last a long time. ‘But the
main thing is beginning the process, therefore, everyone should make
Armenia fulfill its obligations. In this regard, much will depend on
the position of the United States and Russia,’ he said.

Asked how Baku can thank Ankara, Guluzade said: ‘Ankara is aware
that Azerbaijan is an important country in the region, a key link in
relations between Turkey and the Turkic world. Therefore, by defending
the interests of Azerbaijan, Ankara protects its own interests too.’