Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.17
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The process of normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations should proceed in parallel with the negotiations on the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Etyen Mahcupyan, advisor to Turkish prime minister said.
Etyen Mahcupyan is an Armenian by origin.
He said that the restoration of relations between Turkey and Armenia in the near future is impossible because of the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish Memurlar newspaper reported on Feb.17.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
The advisor said the stability in South Caucasus mainly depends on Russia and if this country wants, it can settle the conflicts in this region at any time.
Mahcupyan added that rapprochement between Turkey and Russia can give impetus to starting the settlement of conflicts in South Caucasus.
Edited by SI
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