Turkish FM urges OSCE MG to intensify efforts to solve Karabakh conflict
By Rashid Shirinov
The OSCE Minsk Group, which is brokering for peace in the long-lasting Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, needs to intensify the search for solutions to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The remark was made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the PACE session, RIA Novosti reports.
Cavusoglu, speaking at the meeting on October 12, noted that there are constructive approaches on the Minsk agreements.
“Withdrawal of the Armenian troops from at least five regions of the occupied Azerbaijani territories continues to be debated. We consider that if such steps are taken, we will be ready to support any solution that is supported by Azerbaijan,” he stressed.
The minister also noted that Turkey will no longer face a threat from the South Caucasus if the problem of relations with Armenia is resolved. “Why not to solve it? I think that the Minsk Group will need to roll up its sleeves and work harder,” Cavusoglu said.
Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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