Turkish minister says Garabagh settlement feasible
If Bosnia, Herzegovina
and Serbia have managed to narrow their differences after a
large-scale war, there is a chance that Azerbaijan and Armenia may
reestablish peace as well, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu
was quoted by Turkish Hurriyyet newspaper as saying.
Davudoglu said the conflict involving Bosnia, Herzegovina and Serbia was of greater proportions than Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, but the parties succeeded in normalizing their relations nonetheless. He said Armenia was still accusing Turkey of supporting Azerbaijan and refusing to discuss ways of Garabagh settlement with Ankara.
The minister added that if Turkey have managed to improve relations with the Serbs after centuries of stand-off, it is also possible with the Armenians. "Our confrontation with the Serbs dates back to the 1300s, while our problem with Armenians is only a century old. We have never lived together with the Serbs, but we have with the Armenians. However, we revised our relations with the Serbs in just one year even though we were at war with them for a thousand years. I met with my Serbian counterpart 11 times over a six-month period."
The diplomat said further that thanks to the Turks the relations between Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina improved, while Bosnia even sent an ambassador to Serbia. Davudoglu said Turkey had been in talks with Serbia and Bosnia for six months. "Why can’t we do the same with Azerbaijan and Armenia?"
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless so far.*
Davudoglu said the conflict involving Bosnia, Herzegovina and Serbia was of greater proportions than Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, but the parties succeeded in normalizing their relations nonetheless. He said Armenia was still accusing Turkey of supporting Azerbaijan and refusing to discuss ways of Garabagh settlement with Ankara.
The minister added that if Turkey have managed to improve relations with the Serbs after centuries of stand-off, it is also possible with the Armenians. "Our confrontation with the Serbs dates back to the 1300s, while our problem with Armenians is only a century old. We have never lived together with the Serbs, but we have with the Armenians. However, we revised our relations with the Serbs in just one year even though we were at war with them for a thousand years. I met with my Serbian counterpart 11 times over a six-month period."
The diplomat said further that thanks to the Turks the relations between Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina improved, while Bosnia even sent an ambassador to Serbia. Davudoglu said Turkey had been in talks with Serbia and Bosnia for six months. "Why can’t we do the same with Azerbaijan and Armenia?"
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have been fruitless so far.*
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