Security in Caucasus region impossible until solution of conflicts: former Turkish FM

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 5 / corr Trend E.Ostapenko /  

Proper stability in the [Caucasus] region is impossible until the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh and Georgian-Ossetin conflicts, Turkish former foreign minister Hikmet Chetin said in a conference dedicated to the 15th anniversary of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO on May 5.

"All challenges in the Caucasus should be regarded as opportunities. We should not divide the challenges into local, regional, or international ones. All problems in the region are directly related to us and solution to them is necessary for regional and international cooperation," Chetin said.

NATO remains a bulwark of stability. "NATO mission, however, will change in future. Cold war period has ended and along with ensuring security NATO needs to get more coordinated," former minister said.

Cooperation with NATO assisted Azerbaijan to adjust its political, public, economic and cultural system to the international standards. "Mechanism of cooperation with NATO provides basis for dialogue. Turkey would like to see Caucasus nations to be integrated into NATO. Turkey proceeds work over supporting Azerbaijan in its integration into the alliance," Chetin added.