Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 8 / Trend R.Hafizoglu /
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement on that the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations will depend on the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations will weaken the Armenia's resistance, Turkish National Intelligence Committee former analyst Mahir Kaynak told Trend over the telephone.
Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, as well as several other officials are in official visit to the U.S. During his visit, Erdogan met with U.S. President Barack Obama. Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the future of the Ankara-Yerevan protocols were one of the main topics discussed at the meeting Dec.7.
The PM said that the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations will depend on the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations. The resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and liberation of seven Azerbaijani regions will contribute to the rapprochement of Armenian-Turkish relations, Erdogan said.
According to Kaynak, firmness and efforts of Turkey, as well as of nations such as the United States and Russia, in settling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict points to a change in the policies of each state towards Armenia.
He said such development will sooner or later lead to the withdrawal of the Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
Talking about that the U.S recognition of the "Armenian genocide" as a result of pressure on the president by the Armenian lobby are unfounded, the expert added.
"The U.S. does not want to lose such an important ally in the Middle East, like Turkey for the sake of still unproven far-fetched" genocide," Kaynak said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at [email protected]