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Azerbaijan And Armenia Supported Security And Stability Platform In Caucasus - Turkish Foreign Minister

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 27 September 2008 00:08 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 26 September/ Trend / Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia supported Platform for Security and Stability in Caucasus initiated by Turkey in a meeting in New York on 26 September, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said to CNN Turk channel. їTalks in the format of three will continue. The two countries have real intentions to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh problem,ї diplomat said.

"Caucasus is a small dot in a map, but a number of conflicts are inherent in this small region. Our task is to settle unsolved conflicts. Already four countries - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey and Russia have supported Platform for Security and Stability in Caucasus. We await only Georgia's position," minister said.

A number of issues including conflict in South Ossetia were discussed at the meeting of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey, Babacan said.

Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijanїs lands including Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding seven regions. The occupation began in 1988. Azerbaijan lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December 1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and Nagorno-Karabakh's seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful, but fruitless negotiations.

OSCE Minsk Group also commends Turkey's support for the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

"Turkey's support for the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is good, but support is one, but mediation is another thing," Bernard Fassier, French co-chairman OSCE Minsk Group said during his visit to Baku.

In mid-September, Russia and Turkey began realization of plan on establishment of Platform of Security and Stability in the Caucasus for five countries including Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia, Turkey and Armenia.

The platform indicates Turkey's willingness to accelerate resolution of land disputes in the Caucasus between Armenia and Turkey and Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]

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