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ANKARA: Turkish, Azeri FMs discuss relations w/Armenia, reg. issues

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  • ANKARA: Turkish, Azeri FMs discuss relations w/Armenia, reg. issues

    Anadolu Agency, Turkey
    Dec 25 2009


    Turkish, Azeri foreign ministers discuss relations with Armenia,
    regional issues



    Ankara, 25 December: Turkish foreign minister has sought to give
    assurances that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan would remain
    strong.

    "We will not let anyone ruin relations between the two countries and
    we will not let anyone set our countries against each other," Ahmet
    Davutoglu told a joint press meeting [on] Friday [25 December] with
    Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov after a meeting in Ankara.

    Davutoglu said Turkey and Azerbaijan held regular contacts in mutual
    visits, as well as regular consultations over the telephone.

    "It is out of question that Turkey and Azerbaijan are estranged from
    each other. Just as there are direct talks or consultations in a
    family, there are direct consultations and contacts between the two
    countries which we have never hampered," Davutoglu said.

    The Turkish foreign minister said Turkey and Azerbaijan always
    discussed any issue openly and "with the same perspective".

    "That is why Turkey and Azerbaijan are one nation and two states,"
    Davutoglu told reporters.

    Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Friday that they
    considered Caucasus would reach peace soon, and everyone should fulfil
    his/her task not to miss the opportunity.

    Davutoglu also said Turkish State Minister Zafer Caglayan would pay a
    formal visit to Azerbaijan soon with a crowded delegation.

    "We fully support the steps which have been taken for a solution to
    Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict," he said.

    "We think that normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations as well
    as Turkish-Armenian relations will constitute an important ground for
    regional prosperity and stability," Davutoglu said.

    In regard to Caucasus, Davutoglu said, "We think that peace will be
    secured in Caucasus soon. Everyone should do what is required for
    solution of problems." There is a full cooperation between Turkey and
    Azerbaijan regarding the matter, he said.

    Davutoglu said Mammadyarov and he discussed regional matters,
    developments in Afghanistan and energy projects in their meeting, and
    the two parties confirmed once again that Turkey and Azerbaijan would
    work together in energy projects in Eurasia.

    Azerbaijan's foreign minister has said prospects of stability and
    security in the Caucasus looked dim unless Armenian occupation over
    part of Azeri soil ended.

    "The biggest problem for Azerbaijan in the region is the Upper
    Karabakh, which is under Armenian invasion and the situation of the
    displaced people. We cannot speak of stability and security in a
    setting where 20 per cent of Azeri territory is under occupation,"
    Elmar Mammadyarov told reporters Friday in a joint press conference
    with Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in the Turkish capital,
    Ankara.

    The Upper Karabakh region has been under Armenian occupation since a
    1994 cease-fire which followed a six-year war between Azerbaijan and
    Armenia. The region is internationally recognized as part of
    Azerbaijan.

    Mammadyarov said Friday's talks with Davutoglu discussed in detail
    efforts to maintain stability in the region, adding that Azerbaijan
    attached great importance to peace in the Caucasus.

    The Azeri minister also said an agreement with Turkey to lift visa
    requirements between the two countries was not signed due to a number
    of bureaucratic shortcomings on the Azeri side, which he said would be
    overcome soon.
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