The meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents is an important step in beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu said at a news conference with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb, TRT-2 TV channel reported.
"Solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a necessary condition for peace in the Caucasus," Davutoglu said. "Even if one meeting does not solve all problems, this is an important step in the settlement of the conflict."
During the EU summit Eastern Partnership in Prague, Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia held meetings in the U.S. Embassy and discussed the issue on resolution of Nagorno-Krabakh conflict.
The high-level meeting which took place on May 7 was the fourth one between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan on the Karabakh settlement. The previous meeting took place in Zurich on Jan. 28 in 2009. The first meeting was held in St Petersburg in June 2008 and second - in Moscow in late November 2008.
Davutoglu said the OSCE Minsk Group must take necessary steps to solve the frozen conflicts in the region and Turkey is ready assist in it.
"The frozen conflicts present a serious threat, because they can turn into a great war at any time," the Turkish Foreign Minister said. "Therefore, Turkey intends to take steps to solve these conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
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.
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