Turkey calls on Garabagh mediators to step up peace efforts
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the OSCE
Minsk Group brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh to be more active to ensure peace and
tranquility in the region, Cihan news agency reported.
"We have discussed this topic with Obama, Medvedev and Sarkozy. In America, we'll meet again and evaluate the issue during bilateral meetings," Erdogan told a press conference before flying to Washington.
The Garabagh conflict emerged during the last few years of the Soviet Union. 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent districts, has been under Armenian occupation since the two South Caucasus republics signed a precarious cease-fire in 1994 following a lengthy war. The Minsk Group is co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France.
Erdogan went on to say that his talks with Obama will focus on issues related to Armenia. The Turkish prime minister reminded that he had delegated his personal representative to Azerbaijan and Armenia who delivered his message to Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sarkisian.
"In the U.S. we will have the opportunity to evaluate our efforts," Erdogan added.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Yerevan’s "genocide" claims, as well as Armenia's occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, Turkey’s ally, have posed roadblocks for reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia, and the border between the two countries remains shut.*
"We have discussed this topic with Obama, Medvedev and Sarkozy. In America, we'll meet again and evaluate the issue during bilateral meetings," Erdogan told a press conference before flying to Washington.
The Garabagh conflict emerged during the last few years of the Soviet Union. 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent districts, has been under Armenian occupation since the two South Caucasus republics signed a precarious cease-fire in 1994 following a lengthy war. The Minsk Group is co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France.
Erdogan went on to say that his talks with Obama will focus on issues related to Armenia. The Turkish prime minister reminded that he had delegated his personal representative to Azerbaijan and Armenia who delivered his message to Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sarkisian.
"In the U.S. we will have the opportunity to evaluate our efforts," Erdogan added.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Yerevan’s "genocide" claims, as well as Armenia's occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, Turkey’s ally, have posed roadblocks for reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia, and the border between the two countries remains shut.*
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