02-09-2010 12:35:24

Turkey concerned over Azeri-Armenian shooting

ANKARA – Turkey is closely following the clashes on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was quoted by the Cihan news agency as saying.

Azerbaijan repelled attacks by Armenian armed forces on Tuesday. Two Azerbaijani servicemen were killed. The Armenian side lost three servicemen and several others were wounded, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said.

Davutoglu said Ankara would hold talks with Baku about the escalation of violence on the frontline.

He said further that stability in the Caucasus hinges on the liberation of the Armenia-occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

“Turkey will make every effort possible to put an end to ceasefire violations,” Davutoglu added.

Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a war in the early 1990s which claimed some 30,000 lives. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory since then, despite UN resolutions on unconditional pullout of its armed forces. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but over a decade of efforts by US, Russian and French mediators have been fruitless so far.

TAGS: Azerbaijan, Baku, Turkey, Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Defense Ministry, Ankara, frontline, Caucasus, UN resolutions, US, Russia, France