Turkey to raise regional conflicts at UN SC
Turkey intends to raise the issue of reaching a swift solution to
"frozen" conflicts in the region upon its election to the UN
Security Council, Turkish Ambassador in Baku, Hulusi Kilic, has
said.
Upon election to the Council, Ankara will demand enforcement of the four UN resolutions calling for unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Kilic told a press conference Monday.
He noted that UN SC membership will make Ankara directly involved in the settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, pledging his country`s support to Azerbaijan in finding a solution to the long-lasting dispute.
Turkey was elected an associate member of the UN SC on October 17, gaining votes cast by 80 out of 100 countries. The support of nations in Asia and Africa, whose poor countries have repeatedly received Ankara`s aid, greatly contributed to its election.
The ambassador vowed that Turkey would do its utmost to restore peace and ensure stability in the volatile Caucasus region. "An idea has emerged to work together on this, and it will be materialized."
Following a brief war between Russia and Georgia early in August, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to establish a five-nation union called the Caucasus Peace and Cooperation Platform. Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia have already expressed their backing of the initiative, while Georgia is yet to state its position on the issue.
Touching on Turkish President Abdullah Gul`s visit to Armenia in September, Kilic said it could only bring benefits to Azerbaijan.
"We will always stand by Azerbaijan. Our view is that until Azerbaijan`s occupied territories are returned, Turkey will not open up its border with Armenia…If Armenia pulls out of the occupied land, we will think about it," the diplomat said.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 on Ankara`s insistence due to Armenia`s policy of occupation against Azerbaijan and the "Armenian genocide" claims.
Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijani territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law.
Upon election to the Council, Ankara will demand enforcement of the four UN resolutions calling for unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Kilic told a press conference Monday.
He noted that UN SC membership will make Ankara directly involved in the settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, pledging his country`s support to Azerbaijan in finding a solution to the long-lasting dispute.
Turkey was elected an associate member of the UN SC on October 17, gaining votes cast by 80 out of 100 countries. The support of nations in Asia and Africa, whose poor countries have repeatedly received Ankara`s aid, greatly contributed to its election.
The ambassador vowed that Turkey would do its utmost to restore peace and ensure stability in the volatile Caucasus region. "An idea has emerged to work together on this, and it will be materialized."
Following a brief war between Russia and Georgia early in August, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to establish a five-nation union called the Caucasus Peace and Cooperation Platform. Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia have already expressed their backing of the initiative, while Georgia is yet to state its position on the issue.
Touching on Turkish President Abdullah Gul`s visit to Armenia in September, Kilic said it could only bring benefits to Azerbaijan.
"We will always stand by Azerbaijan. Our view is that until Azerbaijan`s occupied territories are returned, Turkey will not open up its border with Armenia…If Armenia pulls out of the occupied land, we will think about it," the diplomat said.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 on Ankara`s insistence due to Armenia`s policy of occupation against Azerbaijan and the "Armenian genocide" claims.
Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijani territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law.
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