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Turkish mass media: technical work completed Re Lachin corridor

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  • Turkish mass media: technical work completed Re Lachin corridor

    Turkish mass media: The technical work was completed with regard to
    the Lachin corridor linking Armenia to Karabakh

    2009-11-22 09:44:00


    ArmInfo. "Turkey has said it is hopeful that Armenia and Azerbaijan
    will make progress toward resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
    facilitating an imminent normalization of relations between regional
    foes Ankara and Yerevan.

    "The technical work was completed with regard to the corridors linking
    Armenia to Karabakh. We are informed of the progress [regarding the
    negotiations]," a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hurriyet Daily News
    & Economic Review.

    The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham
    Aliyev, are expected to meet Sunday at the French consulate in Munich,
    Germany. It will be the eighth presidential meeting since Turkey and
    Armenia began reconciliatory talks.

    Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols Oct. 10 but have not yet
    initiated ratification of them at either parliament. Turkey submitted
    the protocols to its Parliament, but Armenia is still trying to pass
    them through the constitutional court. "I do not think that one could
    press Turkey at this moment when Armenia has still not submitted them
    to parliament," the senior diplomat said.

    "There are important developments," the senior diplomat said, adding
    that a technical delegation had completed an exploration of the Lachin
    Corridor, a mountain pass within the official borders of Azerbaijan
    that is the shortest route connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.
    "Its status and how to provide its security are important matters to
    be solved."

    Davutoglu held a telephone conversation with his Azerbaijani
    counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov last week and was informed about the
    talks. The co-chairmen of the OSCE's Minsk Group held meetings last
    week in Yerevan and Baku. Mammadyarov is expected to pay a visit to
    Ankara next month.

    The three things Turkey expects are the withdrawal of Armenian troops
    from the seven regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh province and
    the return of the Azerbaijani people who were expelled from their
    homeland; clearer definition of the status of the corridor and how its
    security would be assured; and, lastly, the reaching of an interim
    agreement.

    For Turkish diplomats, there are no additional obstacles before the
    two parties being able to shake hands in the near future. "Talking
    about deadlines is not always productive, but everyone is aware of the
    need to accelerate the process," another Turkish diplomat said.

    "Who knows, maybe Armenia's borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan will be
    opened simultaneously," the diplomat added.

    According to Davutoglu, simultaneous rapprochement between Turkey and
    Armenia and Armenia and Azerbaijan would be the best formula for
    reaching a comprehensive settlement in the southern Caucasus.
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