Turkish Press: Turkish, Russian FMs discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Dec 22 2023

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, diplomatic sources said Friday.

Sources said two top diplomats talked about peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Fidan highlighted the importance of signing the peace agreement “as soon as possible,” the Turkish sources told the media.

Türkiye is a close ally of Azerbaijan and maintains good relations with Moscow.

Normalization of Türkiye’s own relations with Armenia also hinges on Azerbaijan’s ties to Armenia, Turkish officials have earlier said.

The South Caucasus neighbors have fought two wars in the past 30 years over the Azerbaijani enclave Karabakh, but staged a prisoner exchange this month and issued a joint statement saying they want to normalize relations and reach a peace deal.

Azerbaijan sent troops to Karabakh on Sept. 19 and after just one day of fighting, the Armenian separatist forces that had controlled the disputed region for three decades surrendered and agreed to reintegrate with Baku.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS