Trend, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2009
We must ensure stability in Caucasus: Turkish FM
At the meeting with the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mehmet Ali
Shahin, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu noted the importance
of stability in the Caucasus in the near future, the Turkish Cihan
news agency reports.
"We insist on the establishment of stability in the Caucasus," said
Davudoglu. The Turkish Foreign Minister said that he is ready to meet
with all leaders of political parties to discuss the protocol, signed
with Armenia.
On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland
reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations" to
sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and
Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry reported.
Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and
following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two
countries’ parliaments for approval.
"At present Turkey does not plan to open the borders with Armenia,"
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding
districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.
As to violations of the cease-fire between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the
Turkish Foreign Minister said that he talked with his Azerbaijani
counterpart on this issue over the phone, while he was on a visit in
Jordan.
On Sept. 9, the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at the Azerbaijani
troops near the Gulchuluk state farm of the Agdam region. The
Azerbaijani troops answered their fire. As a result of shooting, 5
Armenian militaries died and 3 injured, the Karabakh bureau of Trend
News reported.