Ahmet Davutoglu: The provocations of Armenia can't forward the peaceful settlement of Nagorno-karabakh conflict - UPDATE

Turkey has always made an effort to maintain active diplomatic relations over the question of Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and will continue to do so, said Ahmet Davutoglu, Chairman of the CoE Committee of Ministers and Turkish Foreign Minister, on the second day of the PACE spring session in response to questions by member of the Azerbaijani delegation Ganira Pashayeva.

Pashayeva touched upon the murder of a nine-year old Azerbaijani child by Armenian armed forces and Armenia’s construction of an airport in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"A 9-year-old Fariz Badalov was killed on March 8 as a result of a ceasefire violation by the troops. He was shot in the head while playing in his yard. In addition, Armenia builds an airport in Nagorno-Karabakh - in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which contradicts the resolutions of the CoE and PACE. We would like to know your opinion as the Chairman of the CoE Committee of Ministers. What does the Committee plan to do to suppress Armenia’s steps that cause a blow to talks on the conflict resolution and are aimed at creating tension in the region? " she asked.

Davutoglu expressed regret that the international community does not pay enough attention to the realities of the occupation, the issue of refugees and IDPs, as well as the situation in the region.

"Regarding the activity of the CoE Comiteee of Ministers, I can say that the Council of Europe has a definite position over the Nagorno-Karabakh and other occupied territories. Here I would like to respond as the Turkish Foreign Minister. Turkey has always been against the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and other Azerbaijani territories. We tried to inform the world about the human tragedies that occurred as a result of the occupation. Unfortunately, the international community did not pay enough attention to the occupation, the issue of refugees and IDPs, as well as the situation in the region. Turkey has always persisted in its active diplomatic efforts of establishing lasting peace in the South Caucasus, and will continue to do so, including on the issue of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan," he stressed.

*****

The provocative steps made by Armenia can't forward the peaceful settlement of Nagorno-karabakh conflict, the chair of the Committee of Ministers of the CE and the minister of foreign affairs of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu said in a statement as a reply to the member of the Azerbaijani delegation Rafael Huseynov's question on the second day of PACE spring session.

Huseynov touched upon the issue of the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and the building of the airport on the occupied territories.

"Armenia, which has occupied the 20% of the Azerbaijani territories and has been controlling them during last 20 years instead of fulfilling commitments given to the Council of Europe, continues preventing the peaceful settlement of the conflict. The next strike on the negotiations and settling process was the building of the airport on occupied territories and Yerevan-Khankendi flight opening. As Armenia has no border with Nagorno Karabakh the flights would be made via Azerbaijani airspace. Armenia forces Azerbaijan to take adequate measures by this provocation. What measures can the committee of ministers take to prevent Armenia from taking these dangerous actions?" - the Azerbaijani deputy said.

Davutoglu mentioned in his answer, that the end should be put on these kind of provocative steps.

"As I mentioned before in my previous speeches, the current issue hasn't been discussed by the committee of ministers of the CE. If there is a necessity we will discuss it. The Minsk Group is engaged in the settlement of this conflict, but I'd like to underline as Turkish FM, that this kind of provocative actions can't forward the peaceful settlement of the conflict. We must put an end to these provocative actions to accelerate the negotiations between two presidents." - Davutoglu said.


/Trend/