Turkish President Gul to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh issue in Moscow

During the visit the Turkish leader will discuss the perspectives of bilateral cooperation with his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev, also the possible ways of peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia's AZG reported citing Azerbaijani website "Bakililar".  

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia began in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. Turkey has cut its diplomatic relations and closed the border with Armenia after it occupied Azerbaijani territory.

The efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem seem to be intensified after Georgia-Russia conflict as the situation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia increased fears of a renewed violence and escalation of tension.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss Ankara's proposal for the "Caucasian security and cooperation platform", AZG quoted Turkish Ambassador to Russia Halil Akinci.

"At present there are so many sides that want to establish peace in the Caucasus that they even disturb each other. But the Turkish initiative is peculiar as it embraces only the OSCE-member countries of the region – Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia", he said.

Turkey proposed to set up a platform for cooperation and stability in the Caucasus to help the resolution of conflicts through dialogue after the Russia-Georgia conflict.   
 
Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the countries planned to take part in this formation had voiced optimism, however experts are divided over the prospect of such a platform.

/Hürriyet/