Azernews.Az

Turkish President Abdullah Gul believes a new opportunity has emerged for settling the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
"I hope the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh problem will find its solution through dialog and mutual understanding," he said in a statement after meeting President Ilham Aliyev in Baku last Wednesday. "We presume that a new opportunity has emerged for settling the conflict, which has been unresolved for 17 years. From this viewpoint, I have returned from a visit to Armenia with hope. I believe the problem will be solved through meetings."
Gul went on to say that during talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart, both sides considered the new situation that has emerged in the Caucasus "in quite a broad manner."
"In this sense, I informed the honorable Ilham Aliyev in detail about the visit I paid to Armenia several days ago to attend a soccer match of the national teams [of Turkey and Armenia], and the meeting I had there with President Serzh Sarkisian. I would like to sincerely share with you how President Aliyev`s very realistic analysis of the Caucasus region has really impressed me."
Gul said the new situation in the region has reshaped discussions on the international agenda. "After the developments in Georgia, as statesmen, as leaders, it is necessary to substantively and properly analyze the situation and put forth an unbendable political will."
The Turkish leader said, further, that a speedy return of the occupied Azerbaijani territories would be a major step, and that establishing peace and stability in the region would pave the way for very effective economic cooperation.
"It is, therefore, necessary to better assess the new opportunity, and not to further `frozen` conflicts, but settle them. If this happens, this region will benefit all the nations," Gul said.
President Aliyev, for his part, said he and his Turkish counterpart both believed that the new Armenian leadership would continue making an effort to solve the problem, adding that there were "both certain factors and information that give us hope."
"Certainly, I would not want to get ahead of developments, however, we are looking to the future with growing hope. I would like to believe that, thanks to the efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as other countries, we will achieve peace in the region," Aliyev said.
He emphasized that Azerbaijan is looking to resolve the conflict in peace. It is for this reason that, although peace talks have produced no result for over 15 years, Baku remains committed to the peace process. But at the same time, Aliyev asserted, it is clear that the solution to the issue must be based only upon the principles of international law. Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity must be restored, Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from all the occupied territories, and a million Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons must be allowed to return home, Aliyev said.
"If we accomplish this, a completely new situation will emerge in the region: cooperation, stability, new economic and political initiatives, and an opening of communications," he said.
"We want peace and tranquility to reign in the region, and for all countries located here to be able to establish normal relations with one another. This requires will and wise steps from Armenia`s political leaders," the Azerbaijani leader said.
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.
Aliyev further explained that, after talks with President Gul, he concluded that Azerbaijan and Turkey must adhere to the same positions and share common interests and have no differences in their approaches to these developments.
"This is very important, as it further strengthens the traditional friendship and fraternal relations between the two countries, on the one hand, and increases the role and, on the other, influences the leverage of Azerbaijan and Turkey within the region."
Ankara has offered to play the role of a mediator in the Garabagh settlement. Also, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan intends to discuss the conflict with the foreign ministers of Armenian and Azerbaijani in late September.
Speaking to journalists while on a flight from Azerbaijan, Gul said he was leaving the country feeling optimistic about the future. He said that while in Baku, he witnessed a desire to openly and sincerely resolve the Garabagh problem and also saw a demonstrated respect for the opposing side, which was also displayed by officials during his previous visit to Yerevan. He said that if Azerbaijan and Armenia reach an agreement, Armenia has the will to pull its troops from occupied Azerbaijani land.
Gul made it clear that Ankara`s policy on the Garabagh conflict remains unchanged. "Azeris should have no worries. To this day, Turkey has given support to Azerbaijan`s struggle, while sacrificing its own interests. We are separate parts of the Turkic nation."
Asked whether he sensed any resentment in Azerbaijan due to his visit to arch-foe Armenia, the Turkish leader gave a negative answer.