Azerbaijani and Turkish political parties likely to meet at end of Jan

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 16 / Trend , I.Alizade/ Political parties of the Azerbaijani Parliament made a decision to hold a conference under the topic of Turkish-Armenian relation: possible expectations in Baku at the end of Jan. in 2009 with participation of the Turkish political parties. "We have decided to discuss the Turkish-Armenian negotiations with political parties of the Turkish Parliament," MP Fazail Agamali, the chairman of Ana Vatan Party (AVP), said on Dec. 16.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 because of Armenia's false "genocide" claims and occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani lands. Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to watch Armenia-Turkey football match within the European Cup. Efforts have been made since then to normalize ties between the two countries.

The ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) and opposition parties will not be invited to this meeting.

Chairmen of the Ana Vatan Party, the Unified Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, the Justice Party, the Great Establishment Party and the Civil Solidarity Party discussed this issue on Dec. 16, Agamali said.

"We will send an initiation to political parties of the Turkish Parliament on the behalf of the Azerbaijani five parties soon. We will invite representatives of the Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party and opposition Cumhuriyyet Halg Party and Party of Nationalist Movement to Baku," Agamali said.