TURKEY WANTS OSCE TO EXPEDITE KARABAKH PEACE
Asbarez
May 14th, 2010
ANKARA
Turkey is keen to see the OSCE, and Russia in particular, step-up
efforts to secure a settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu took the opportunity to restate these
views at a press conference in Ankara yesterday with visiting Slovak
foreign minister, Miroslav Lajcak.
"We expect more active steps from the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the
Karabakh conflict," said Davutoglu, adding that Ankara hoped Moscow
would be more active in finding a solution to the conflict.
"Several meetings were held last year between the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sarkisain as a result
of the initiatives of Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev," he said,
adding that the issue was on the agenda of Medvedev’s visit to the
Turkish capital on Wednesday. "President Gul and Prime Minister
Erdogan discussed this issue with Medvedev in Ankara and this issue
was on our agenda. I have also discussed this issue with [Russian
Foreign Minister] Mr Lavrov."
The Turkish foreign minister said that the interests of Turkey and
Russia in the Caucasus region "coincided" and the establishment of
peace there would be favorable for Turkey and Russia as well as for
the international community.
"We want these frozen conflicts to be settled and mutual distrust to
be overcome," he added.