Obama to table Garabagh in Turkey
Reaching a settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict will be discussed during US
President Barack Obama`s visit to Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.
Erdogan told Show TV channel that resolution of the long-standing dispute would facilitate removing all the challenges facing his country`s relations with Armenia, which have been historically marred by tensions, and expressed hope Washington would support Ankara in these efforts.
The Turkish premier said he believed the Garabagh problem would find a peaceful solution in a short time. He voiced confidence that the United States, France and Russia - the countries brokering the peace process through the OSCE Minsk Group - would be able to swiftly reach a solution to the conflict, which has remained unresolved for 17 years.
"The fact that these states are also permanent members of the UN Security Council will help to solve the problem, which will make things easier for us as well," Erdogan said.
The Turkish government has lately stepped up its efforts at promoting peace in the turbulent region by proposing the Caucasus Peace and Stability Platform.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have achieved little so far.
Erdogan noted that the so-called genocide of Armenians, a claim regarding alleged World War I-era mass killings in the Ottoman Empire, would also be discussed during talks with President Obama. The proposed regional cooperation platform, as well as Russia-Georgia tensions, will be on the agenda as well.
Erdogan cited the need for taking US-Turkey relations to a higher level. "I don`t consider these ties advanced enough - they need to be further developed."
White House deputy national security adviser Denis McDonough has told a news briefing that Ankara was a pivotal ally for Washington.
"Turkey is a key NATO member state. The country`s importance for the U.S. is not linked merely to its NATO membership but it also stems from Turkey`s leading role in the region. This also includes the role it plays in Israel-Syria talks. Moreover, Turkey is a real bridge between Asia and Europe. The president is looking forward to addressing these issues."
President Obama is scheduled to pay a visit to Turkey April 5-7 during which he is due to hold meetings in Ankara and Istanbul. Obama is expected to hold talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan.
During the visit, the US president will also attend a roundtable with students and media representatives in Istanbul and address area youths.
Meanwhile, Turkey`s ABHaber news website published a report, quoting an unnamed European Commission official, saying that the Turkey-Armenia border will open after Obama`s visit. It said, further, that Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is due to visit Armenia in mid-April. The border is likely to be opened shortly thereafter - on the eve of April 24, the day considered by Armenians as the date marking the genocide allegedly committed in Ottoman Turkey, the report claimed.
The source also said the alleged reopening of the border would be welcomed by the European Union.
Armenia and Turkey currently maintain no diplomatic ties and the border between the two countries has remained closed since 1993. However, there have been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties of late.
Erdogan told Show TV channel that resolution of the long-standing dispute would facilitate removing all the challenges facing his country`s relations with Armenia, which have been historically marred by tensions, and expressed hope Washington would support Ankara in these efforts.
The Turkish premier said he believed the Garabagh problem would find a peaceful solution in a short time. He voiced confidence that the United States, France and Russia - the countries brokering the peace process through the OSCE Minsk Group - would be able to swiftly reach a solution to the conflict, which has remained unresolved for 17 years.
"The fact that these states are also permanent members of the UN Security Council will help to solve the problem, which will make things easier for us as well," Erdogan said.
The Turkish government has lately stepped up its efforts at promoting peace in the turbulent region by proposing the Caucasus Peace and Stability Platform.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a ceasefire agreement in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have achieved little so far.
Erdogan noted that the so-called genocide of Armenians, a claim regarding alleged World War I-era mass killings in the Ottoman Empire, would also be discussed during talks with President Obama. The proposed regional cooperation platform, as well as Russia-Georgia tensions, will be on the agenda as well.
Erdogan cited the need for taking US-Turkey relations to a higher level. "I don`t consider these ties advanced enough - they need to be further developed."
White House deputy national security adviser Denis McDonough has told a news briefing that Ankara was a pivotal ally for Washington.
"Turkey is a key NATO member state. The country`s importance for the U.S. is not linked merely to its NATO membership but it also stems from Turkey`s leading role in the region. This also includes the role it plays in Israel-Syria talks. Moreover, Turkey is a real bridge between Asia and Europe. The president is looking forward to addressing these issues."
President Obama is scheduled to pay a visit to Turkey April 5-7 during which he is due to hold meetings in Ankara and Istanbul. Obama is expected to hold talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan.
During the visit, the US president will also attend a roundtable with students and media representatives in Istanbul and address area youths.
Meanwhile, Turkey`s ABHaber news website published a report, quoting an unnamed European Commission official, saying that the Turkey-Armenia border will open after Obama`s visit. It said, further, that Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is due to visit Armenia in mid-April. The border is likely to be opened shortly thereafter - on the eve of April 24, the day considered by Armenians as the date marking the genocide allegedly committed in Ottoman Turkey, the report claimed.
The source also said the alleged reopening of the border would be welcomed by the European Union.
Armenia and Turkey currently maintain no diplomatic ties and the border between the two countries has remained closed since 1993. However, there have been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties of late.
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