Ambassador: Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict important for Turkey

/By Azernews/

By Gunay Camal

The settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is as important for Turkey as for Azerbaijan.

Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ismayil Alper Coskun has made the remark while commenting on reports about the possible opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia amid Ankara’s policy of improving its ties with regional countries.

Turkey holds a clear stance on normalization of the relations with Armenia. Ankara has repeatedly stated that the relations can be normalized after liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation, Coskun said while talking to AzTV on July 26.

The ambassador of the brotherly country emphasized that only after this; there will be made a decision jointly with Azerbaijan on this issue.

The Turkish-Armenian border was closed in early 1990s in response to Armenia's so-called "genocide" claims against Ankara and occupation of Azerbaijani territories, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.

Ankara set Armenia's withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions of Azerbaijan as a precondition for establishing diplomatic relations with the country.

In 2009, the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Armenia Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed protocols on normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia.
However, the protocols have not been ratified by the countries' parliaments yet.

Armenia, which is in a state of isolation in the region because of its aggressive policy against its neighbors, and West periodically urge Ankara to open the borders, while Turkey repeatedly stated that the Ankara-Yerevan normalization of ties is impossible without the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. 

Alper Coskun has once again reiterated that Turkey will continue to act jointly with Azerbaijan in the peaceful settlement of the conflict within the principles of territorial integrity and inviolability of Azerbaijan’s borders.

"As Cavusoglu said, the solution acceptable for Azerbaijan will be acceptable for Turkey as well," said the diplomat.

"During my last visit to Azerbaijan we discussed our support for all proposals the brotherly country will take on the settlement of the issue and our joint steps on a number of other issues," stressed Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in his interview with Haberturk TV channel. 

Pointing to the recent intensified negotiations towards the liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Cavusoglu hailed Russia's and Minsk Group co-chairs' increased efforts towards the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We always stand by Azerbaijan on all these issues," he said.

Historically, the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey have been brotherly, friendly, and collaborative. Turkey has always been the strategic partner of Azerbaijan, the people of both countries being of Turkic race, sharing similar histories, cultures, religions and traditions.