RUSSIAN PRESIDENT FAVOURS NORMALIZATION OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Anadolu Agency
May 12 2010
Turkey

Ankara, 12 May: The Russian president extended on Wednesday [12 May]
support to normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.

Russia’s President Dmitriy Medvedev said Russia was monitoring the
process carefully and wished that the process that had gained momentum
with protocol signed between Turkey and Armenia would continue.

"I hope parties will reach an agreement," Medvedev told a joint press
conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Ankara.

Medvedev said the normalization would contribute to regional stability,
improve economic relations and raise living standards.

"We support this process, we will make use of our resources but the
concerned parties will make the (final) decision," he said.

On Karabakh dispute, Medvedev said it was a challenging issue but
not the sole issue in the Caucasus.

Medvedev said promising steps had been taken recently for settlement
of Karabakh controversy and there had been a number of developments
but that did not mean a compromise on all matters.

The Russian president said he had recommended Russia’s mediation
to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, organized negotiations in Russia and such initiatives
would continue.

Medvedev said significant progress had been made recently, however
nobody should be contented with that progress.

On bilateral relations, Medvedev said he discussed contributions
of Turkey and Russia on regional and global stability with Gul,
and referred to two countries’ responsibility in the Black Sea basin.

Medvedev said Gul and he once more confirmed the will to counter
terrorism and two countries would do their best for a cooperation
among security, military and intelligence units.

Also, Medvedev said two countries had similar views on solution of
Middle East problem and they could make the process more active.

Medvedev said Gul and he discussed possible steps that could be taken
and the recent slowdown in the process had affected living standards
in the region.

All countries should work efficiently to solve problems, Medvedev said.

Medvedev said all concerned parties should take part in solution of
the Middle East problem and it was not possible for the Palestinian
administration to solve the problem with such a division.

"This will lead to Palestine’s recess and the peace process is not
going on as desired," he said.

Medvedev said the United States should be more active on this issue
and the Middle East should be a region purified from nuclear weapons.

"Presence of nuclear weapons and their use will be a disaster,"
he said.

The Russian president said Gul and he also debated Iraq and Iran,
and Russia’s stance on Iran was certain and close to that of Turkey.

Medvedev said measures to ensure stability should be taken, Iran should
assume a constructive approach and a peaceful solution should be found.

"If a country implements its own nuclear programme, it will destabilize
balances rapidly and cause serious results," he said.

Medvedev said Russia aimed to use all its resources and continue
talks with particularly Iran, Israel and other countries involved in
the process.

"I am hopeful that it will be possible to get out of this complicated
situation but it is a challenging one," he said.

Russia and Turkey were also interested in the stability of the
Caucasus, Medvedev said.

Medvedev said two countries were working to solve the Karabakh dispute
and Russia would continue the process and consultations with Turkey.

Gul and Medvedev also took up Balkans and Cyprus.

"Turkish and Russian partnership is in line with the best interests
of our nations and it is one of elements ensuring regional peace,"
he also said.

Medvedev is actually paying a formal visit to Turkey. He will meet
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which will be followed
by a working lunch.

The Russian president will also meet Parliament Speaker Mehmet
Ali Sahin.

Medvedev will participate in a meeting of the Turkish-Russian
Business Forum.

Turkey’s President Gul is expected to host a dinner in Medvedev’s
honour at the Cankaya presidential residence.