KARABAKH ‘MAIN ISSUE’ OF ERDOGAN-OBAMA TALKS, SAYS DAVUTOGLU
Asbarez
Dec 8th, 2009
BAKU (Today.az)-The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was "a main issue" in
Monday’s talks between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
US President Barack Obama, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
was quoted by the Azeri Today.az news portal as saying in an interview
on Tuesday.
"This [Nagorno-Karabakh] was a main issue. Turkey is very interested
in explaining to the Obama administration the sensitive points of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Davutoglu said.
Davutoglu said he spoke with Azeri diplomats on the matter before
Erdogan made his trip to Washington. "We communicate with them very
often," he said, referring to Ankara’s ongoing efforts to leverage
its negotiations with Armenia to secure a resolution of the Karabakh
favoring Azerbaijan. "We want to tell the Azerbaijani people – you
can be sure we are with you."
"I have repeatedly stated and I want to reiterate that the process of
normalizing Armenia-Turkey relations has been and will be a catalyst
to keeping the Nagorno-Karabakh process in the international arena.
Our attempts were directed at this," Davutoglu said.
"It is important for Turkey that the Obama Administration focuses its
attention on this topic," Erdogan said. "We have seen strong interest
in Washington in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
Davutoglu said Erdogan told Obama that Turkey cannot normalize
relations with Armenia and "achieve lasting peace in the region
without resolving the Karabakh issue first."
Davutoglu also downplayed a recent spat between Turkey and Azerbaijan
over the price of natural gas, saying it was not a divisive issue
between the two countries, which "speak with one voice on a number
of issues."
"I think the problem between our countries relating to transit prices
is solvable. We soon will find a solution," he said. "Our delegation
is discussing this topic with Azerbaijan today."