Azernews.Az

The OSCE Minsk Group, which has taken over the mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, can not adequately perform its task. Against this background, the role of Turkey looks quite objective, Deputy Chairman of the ruling Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Ali Ahmadov said.

According to him, Azerbaijan has repeatedly stressed that Turkey may play a major role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking before the House of Representatives on April 18, said Turkey might become a constructive player in the settlement of the Cyprus and Nagorno-Karabakh issues.

According to Ahmadov, mediation has been conducted in an unfair format.

"If we look at the composition of the mediators, we can see there is not a single party that would protect Azerbaijan's interests. Alongside, the mediators are not neutral. Thus, on the one hand, they are not neutral, but on the other, there are no mediators that would protect the just position of Azerbaijan. In this case, the value of Turkey's role in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict increases even more," Ahmadov said.

According to him, Turkey's role in the South Caucasus as well as the role and prospects in the settlement of the processes associated with the region are also creating opportunities to significantly influence the settlement of the conflict.

"We, as citizens of Azerbaijan, consider it fair. Scoring such a thought on the part of John Kerry is also not an accident," Ahmadov said.

Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day.

A precarious cease-fire was signed in 1994. However, units of the Armenian armed forces commit armistice breaches on the frontline almost every day.

Peace talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs representing the United States, Russia and France have been largely fruitless so far.