Azernews.Az

BAKU – Turkey has complicated a settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh by signing the 2009 agreements on normalizing its relations with Armenia, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has said.

Azimov told CNN Turk TV channel that no progress should be expected in settling the Karabakh conflict before April 24, the anniversary of the alleged Ottoman-era genocide of Armenians. He said the 2009 events facilitating reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia did nothing to advance Karabakh settlement.

"Those events brought about a crisis for us. The normalization process has been suspended, and neither has progress been achieved on the Karabakh issue," Azimov said.

Turkey and Armenia have been at odds for decades due to Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territory, including Nagorno Karabakh and its seven surrounding regions, and Armenian claims on 1915 "genocide". In late 2009, the two governments signed agreements to establish diplomatic relations. However, Turkey has assured Azerbaijan, its ally, that the protocols will not be ratified until progress is made in resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. In response, Yerevan suspended parliamentary approval of the accords in April 2010.

Azimov said that after April 24 progress in resolving the conflict is unlikely as well.

"The main issue is that we want Karabakh to be reintegrated into Azerbaijan. Armenia has been stepping up its efforts toward Karabakh’s breaking away. In this situation, we cannot reach any result."

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994. The separatist regime in the Nagorno Karabakh region held an illegal referendum in December 1991 with the participation of only Armenian residents. The voters supported so-called independence of the region, which has not been recognized by the world community.