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TURKEY'S ROLE IMPORTANT IN SETTLEMENT OF DECADES-LONG NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Today's Zaman
July 8 2012
Turkey
Turkey's role in the settlement of the decades-long Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict between Turkey's closest ally, Azerbaijan, and its estranged
neighbor Armenia is very important, an Azerbaijani official has said,
pointing out that the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh should predate
the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border.
"Reconciliation and the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia
can be a subject of discussion only after the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Orkhan Akbarov, the newly appointed chair
of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh Coordination Council,
said in an interview with Sunday's Zaman.
Commenting on Turkey's firm stance in the process of settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Akbarov said that Turkey taking a stand
in not opening the Turkish-Armenian border already proves Turkey's
position and its support for brother country Azerbaijan.
Turkey and Azerbaijan are considered "brotherly countries" due to
their ethnic kinship, a fact that led Turkey to close its border with
Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan after Armenian armed
forces occupied territories of Azerbaijan one year earlier.
"Turkey's continuing support for Azerbaijan and its consistent
statements that it regards settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as
a precondition for the revival of diplomatic relations between Turkey
and Armenia makes Turkey's position clear," Akbarov said, expressing
his belief that Turkey will continue to support Azerbaijan on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
Armenia, which started a war with Azerbaijan during the breakup of
the Soviet Union and occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory,
including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent provinces, argues
that Turkey has no say in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as it is
not one of the sides to the conflict. However, Turkey has always
backed Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, declaring itself
to be on Azerbaijan's side and standing by Azerbaijan in Azerbaijan's
legitimate and constructive position in the settlement of the conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave located within Azerbaijan predominantly
populated by ethnic Armenians, together with seven Azeri-populated
adjacent territories, was occupied by Armenian forces under the
command of current Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan in a bloody
six-year war (1988-1994), leaving 30,000 dead and nearly a million
displaced. Since then, negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict have been continuing under the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, established in 1992. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict however remains stalemated as there has been
no progress in negotiations. The talks under the OSCE Minsk Group have
yet to yield any results, as both Azerbaijan and Armenia insist on
conditions that are not acceptable to the other. Armenia demands the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and refuses to withdraw its troops
from the occupied territories before ensuring the full sovereignty
of the region. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan insists on the upholding of its
territorial integrity, promising it will be open to discussion as
well as determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh after the
withdrawal the troops from its territories.
Commenting on the stalemate, Akbarov accuses Russia and France of not
being willing parties in settling the conflict. "As Russia does not
approach the settlement process constructively and France maintains a
pro-Armenian stance in the negotiations, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
remains unsettled for the time being," Akbarov said, adding that
Turkey's inclusion as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group would be
important. "To have a balance in the [OSCE Minsk] group is necessary
and I think, if the member countries come together to cooperate with
Turkey as co-chair of the group, it will help the Nagorno-Karabakh to
find its best solution ever," Akbarov said, underlining that Turkey's
inclusion in the Minsk Group would lead to a peaceful solution to
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict being finally found.
Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks have been conducted under the auspices
of the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the US, France and Russia.
Today's Zaman
July 8 2012
Turkey
Turkey's role in the settlement of the decades-long Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict between Turkey's closest ally, Azerbaijan, and its estranged
neighbor Armenia is very important, an Azerbaijani official has said,
pointing out that the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh should predate
the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border.
"Reconciliation and the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia
can be a subject of discussion only after the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Orkhan Akbarov, the newly appointed chair
of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh Coordination Council,
said in an interview with Sunday's Zaman.
Commenting on Turkey's firm stance in the process of settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Akbarov said that Turkey taking a stand
in not opening the Turkish-Armenian border already proves Turkey's
position and its support for brother country Azerbaijan.
Turkey and Azerbaijan are considered "brotherly countries" due to
their ethnic kinship, a fact that led Turkey to close its border with
Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan after Armenian armed
forces occupied territories of Azerbaijan one year earlier.
"Turkey's continuing support for Azerbaijan and its consistent
statements that it regards settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as
a precondition for the revival of diplomatic relations between Turkey
and Armenia makes Turkey's position clear," Akbarov said, expressing
his belief that Turkey will continue to support Azerbaijan on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
Armenia, which started a war with Azerbaijan during the breakup of
the Soviet Union and occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory,
including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent provinces, argues
that Turkey has no say in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as it is
not one of the sides to the conflict. However, Turkey has always
backed Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, declaring itself
to be on Azerbaijan's side and standing by Azerbaijan in Azerbaijan's
legitimate and constructive position in the settlement of the conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave located within Azerbaijan predominantly
populated by ethnic Armenians, together with seven Azeri-populated
adjacent territories, was occupied by Armenian forces under the
command of current Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan in a bloody
six-year war (1988-1994), leaving 30,000 dead and nearly a million
displaced. Since then, negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict have been continuing under the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, established in 1992. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict however remains stalemated as there has been
no progress in negotiations. The talks under the OSCE Minsk Group have
yet to yield any results, as both Azerbaijan and Armenia insist on
conditions that are not acceptable to the other. Armenia demands the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and refuses to withdraw its troops
from the occupied territories before ensuring the full sovereignty
of the region. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan insists on the upholding of its
territorial integrity, promising it will be open to discussion as
well as determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh after the
withdrawal the troops from its territories.
Commenting on the stalemate, Akbarov accuses Russia and France of not
being willing parties in settling the conflict. "As Russia does not
approach the settlement process constructively and France maintains a
pro-Armenian stance in the negotiations, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
remains unsettled for the time being," Akbarov said, adding that
Turkey's inclusion as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group would be
important. "To have a balance in the [OSCE Minsk] group is necessary
and I think, if the member countries come together to cooperate with
Turkey as co-chair of the group, it will help the Nagorno-Karabakh to
find its best solution ever," Akbarov said, underlining that Turkey's
inclusion in the Minsk Group would lead to a peaceful solution to
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict being finally found.
Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks have been conducted under the auspices
of the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the US, France and Russia.