TURKISH PRESIDENT SEES "NEW CHANCES" FOR KARABAKH TALKS
Azad Azarbaycan TV
Sept 11 2008
Azerbaijan
[Presenter] Turkey has always been and will continue to be by
Azerbaijan’s side in the resolution of all issues, Turkish President
Abdulla Gul, who arrived in Azerbaijan yesterday [10 September], said
at a joint briefing held after his meeting with Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev. Gul analysed the situation after his visit to Yerevan and
said that a new situation had emerged in the region and with regard to
the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement. He said that he had discussed all
this in detail with President Aliyev. In turn, Aliyev said that new
opportunities had appeared for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
[Correspondent over video over briefing] There are some
promising factors and reports concerning the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. President Aliyev said this at a news briefing held after his
meeting with Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul yesterday. The president
said that the new Armenian political leadership’s will and wise steps
were all that was needed for creating peace and normal relations in
the region.
[Aliyev, addressing the news conference] I and esteemed President
Abdullah Gul think that Armenia’s new leadership will continue making
efforts for resolution of the issue. There are also some promising
factors and promising reports. Of course, I would not like to get
ahead of developments. We are looking to the future with increasing
hopes. I want to believe that as a result of the efforts of Turkey,
Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries, we will manage to ensure
peace in the region.
[Correspondent] President Aliyev also ruled out any changes in
Azerbaijan’s principles regarding the talks conducted for resolving
the conflict. Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, the vacation of our
territories by the occupying units and the return of refugees and IDPs
to their lands should be ensured. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said
that he had received promising messages from Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan during his visit to Yerevan and added that a new atmosphere
for the conflict’s resolution had emerged.
[Gul, speaking in Turkish] I hope that the Karabakh issue between
Azerbaijan and Armenia will be resolved through a dialogue,
understanding and mutual meetings. We think that new chances have
appeared for resolution of this issue which has lasted for 17 years. In
this regard, I returned from my visit to Armenia with hopes. I
think these issues may be resolved through meetings. Undoubtedly,
the vacation of occupied territories immediately [changes tack] These
will be very great steps. When an atmosphere of peace and stability
emerges, there will be major economic cooperation in the region.
[Correspondent] Aliyev said that Azerbaijani-Turkish ties are so strong
that nothing and nobody could affect this successful development and
sent a message that Armenians would take advantage of this successful
development if the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict was resolved.
[Aliyev] We can say with full certainty that the Turkish-Azerbaijani
policy and initiatives advanced in the region will usher in a new
atmosphere for further strengthening of stability today and in the
future. In one word, while discussing bilateral issues with the
esteemed president, the unfolding regional situation and the events
that took place, we once again saw that our positions and interests
are common and there is also no difference in our views on these
developments. This is very important as it further boosts traditional
friendly and fraternal ties between the two countries. On the other
hand, it is no secret that Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s regional role
and chances of influence is increasing.
[Correspondent] Gul returned to his country last night after finishing
his meeting. In an interview with the Turkish media in his plane, Gul
said that the Armenians were willing to withdraw from the Azerbaijani
lands they had occupied.
I came to this conclusion at the meeting with Sargsyan. Naturally,
Armenians will withdraw from the lands they have occupied, refugees
will return to their lands and aggression will end, end of the quote.
Vaqif Aydinoglu, "Son Xabar".