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AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 30, 2009 Thursday
GUL: MENDING TIES WITH ARMENIA COULD BENEFIT AZERBAIJAN
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said possible signing of an
agreement between Turkey and Armenia to normalize their strained
relations could positively affect Azerbaijan as well. Gul told a news
conference after talks with Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus
during a visit to Prague on Thursday that restoring Turkish-Armenian
ties would pave the way for stability in the entire Caucasus
region. Ongoing efforts to normalize our relations with Armenia are
not aimed against Azerbaijan.
Our goal is to restore stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus
and to normalize relations with our close neighbors, Gul said. The
governments of Turkey and Armenia reached a verbal road map agreement
last week. The document is the first move by Ankara and Yerevan to
mend ties since Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to
Armenian occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, Turkeys ally,
and Yerevans claims on the alleged World War I-era genocide. Gul said
the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement will not cause Azerbaijan to impede
the project on building the Nabucco pipeline, which seeks to deliver
Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to European markets through
Turkey.
On the contrary, as problems are solved in the Caucasus region, this
task will become easier, he said, adding that Ankara was keen on
realizing the Nabucco project. Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
has assured Baku that it should not be concerned over ongoing talks
between Ankara and Yerevan. He added that Turkey and Armenia plan to
launch a large-scale normalization process in the coming weeks.
According to Babacan, the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents have
achieved considerable progress in settling the Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict. He emphasized that the political will of the two
leaders will play a special role in reaching a solution to the nearly
two-decade-long dispute. There is a ray of hope, and a chance of
settlement is discerned. And, this may happen in a short time. If the
[mediating] OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Russia and America also display
will, these problems could find their solution, Babacan said.
The Turkish minister added that important discussions would begin in
several weeks to advance Garabagh settlement, during which all details
of the problem would be mulled in the U.S., Russia, Switzerland,
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
April 30, 2009 Thursday
GUL: MENDING TIES WITH ARMENIA COULD BENEFIT AZERBAIJAN
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said possible signing of an
agreement between Turkey and Armenia to normalize their strained
relations could positively affect Azerbaijan as well. Gul told a news
conference after talks with Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus
during a visit to Prague on Thursday that restoring Turkish-Armenian
ties would pave the way for stability in the entire Caucasus
region. Ongoing efforts to normalize our relations with Armenia are
not aimed against Azerbaijan.
Our goal is to restore stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus
and to normalize relations with our close neighbors, Gul said. The
governments of Turkey and Armenia reached a verbal road map agreement
last week. The document is the first move by Ankara and Yerevan to
mend ties since Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to
Armenian occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, Turkeys ally,
and Yerevans claims on the alleged World War I-era genocide. Gul said
the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement will not cause Azerbaijan to impede
the project on building the Nabucco pipeline, which seeks to deliver
Azerbaijani and Central Asian gas to European markets through
Turkey.
On the contrary, as problems are solved in the Caucasus region, this
task will become easier, he said, adding that Ankara was keen on
realizing the Nabucco project. Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
has assured Baku that it should not be concerned over ongoing talks
between Ankara and Yerevan. He added that Turkey and Armenia plan to
launch a large-scale normalization process in the coming weeks.
According to Babacan, the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents have
achieved considerable progress in settling the Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict. He emphasized that the political will of the two
leaders will play a special role in reaching a solution to the nearly
two-decade-long dispute. There is a ray of hope, and a chance of
settlement is discerned. And, this may happen in a short time. If the
[mediating] OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Russia and America also display
will, these problems could find their solution, Babacan said.
The Turkish minister added that important discussions would begin in
several weeks to advance Garabagh settlement, during which all details
of the problem would be mulled in the U.S., Russia, Switzerland,
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.