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TURKEY URGES OSCE TO BACK AZERBAIJAN IN KARABAKH DISPUTE
RIA Novosti
December 7, 2009
BAKU
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should take
note of the UN stance on the Azerbaijani-Armenian territorial dispute
and support Baku, Turkey's prime minister has said.
"The OSCE Minsk Group should be more decisive on this issue," Recep
Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Azerbaijan's ANS TV channel.
"Steps must be taken. The UN declared that Nagorny Karabakh belongs to
Azerbaijan... Who should take the necessary step in this case? Armenia
should," the prime minister said.
"When we talk about settling the conflict, we mean an agreement on
the seven districts" belonging to Azerbaijan and occupied by Armenia,
he said.
If an agreement is not reached, "Turkey will take no positive steps
towards Armenia."
Four resolutions condemning the Armenian invasion and occupation
of Azerbaijan's territories were passed by the UN Security Council
in 1993, at the height of the Azerbaijani-Armenian war in Nagorny
Karabakh.
Later that year, Turkey closed its border with Armenia in a show of
support for Azerbaijan, a predominantly Muslim, Turkic-speaking ally
of Ankara.
In October 2009, Turkey and Armenia signed historic accords on
diplomatic relations and on development of bilateral ties. The
documents have yet to be ratified by the country's parliaments,
and face opposition from nationalist parties in both countries.
Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a meeting
with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Athens that
Turkish-Armenian deals can only be ratified after the Nagorny Karabakh
issue is resolved.
Ankara has also demanded that Yerevan drop its campaign to have the
mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 internationally
recognized as genocide.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh
first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from
Azerbaijan to join Armenia.
Over 30,000 people were reported dead on both sides between 1988
and 1994, and over 100 others died after a ceasefire was concluded
in 1994, leaving Nagorny Karabakh in Armenian hands, but tensions
between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.
The OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France,
is a mediator in the conflict.
RIA Novosti
December 7, 2009
BAKU
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe should take
note of the UN stance on the Azerbaijani-Armenian territorial dispute
and support Baku, Turkey's prime minister has said.
"The OSCE Minsk Group should be more decisive on this issue," Recep
Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Azerbaijan's ANS TV channel.
"Steps must be taken. The UN declared that Nagorny Karabakh belongs to
Azerbaijan... Who should take the necessary step in this case? Armenia
should," the prime minister said.
"When we talk about settling the conflict, we mean an agreement on
the seven districts" belonging to Azerbaijan and occupied by Armenia,
he said.
If an agreement is not reached, "Turkey will take no positive steps
towards Armenia."
Four resolutions condemning the Armenian invasion and occupation
of Azerbaijan's territories were passed by the UN Security Council
in 1993, at the height of the Azerbaijani-Armenian war in Nagorny
Karabakh.
Later that year, Turkey closed its border with Armenia in a show of
support for Azerbaijan, a predominantly Muslim, Turkic-speaking ally
of Ankara.
In October 2009, Turkey and Armenia signed historic accords on
diplomatic relations and on development of bilateral ties. The
documents have yet to be ratified by the country's parliaments,
and face opposition from nationalist parties in both countries.
Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a meeting
with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Athens that
Turkish-Armenian deals can only be ratified after the Nagorny Karabakh
issue is resolved.
Ankara has also demanded that Yerevan drop its campaign to have the
mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 internationally
recognized as genocide.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh
first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from
Azerbaijan to join Armenia.
Over 30,000 people were reported dead on both sides between 1988
and 1994, and over 100 others died after a ceasefire was concluded
in 1994, leaving Nagorny Karabakh in Armenian hands, but tensions
between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.
The OSCE Minsk Group, comprising the United States, Russia and France,
is a mediator in the conflict.