Saturday, October 15 2016 12:53

ArmInfo. Ankara appreciates the statement of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the possibility for Turkey to play a positive role in the Nagorno-  Karabakh conflict's settlement, Turkey's Foreign Ministry told Trend in an exclusive interview.

"First and foremost, Turkey wishes peace and stability in the South  Caucasus. Respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all  countries in the region will contribute to peace and stability in the  region. The unconstructive position of Armenia in the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict poses a risk for a long-term peace and  stability in the region," said the ministry.  At the same time, the  Turkish minister said Turkey supports Azerbaijan in the issue and the  settlement of the conflict on the basis of 'territorial integrity and  sovereignty of Azerbaijan.'

"Undoubtedly, Turkey will support Azerbaijan's position in this  issue. In this regard, Turkey as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group is  closely monitoring the settlement process and is trying to promote  negotiations by means of close contacts with Azerbaijan," said  Turkey's Foreign Ministry.

Earlier on Friday Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told  journalists in Yerevan Turkey may play a positive role in Nagorno-  Karabakh settlement.

"The fact that Turkey can play a positive role lifting blockade from  Nagorno Karabakh, ensuring normal economic cooperation in the region  is an important factor, which we always consider. And we would be  glad if Armenia and Turkey return to fulfillment of agreements  without relating them to Karabakh conflict.  But we feel that  progress in Karabakh settlement would be key factor in normalization  of Armenian- Turkish relations", Lavrov said. 

In the meantime, Yerevan does insist that Turkey must not involve in  the Karabakh peace process.  Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia  Shavarsh Kocharyan has told Public TV that first and foremost, the  settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem is aimed at determining the  final status of Nagorno- Karabakh through the legally binding  expression of will of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. "Another  attempt of the Foreign Minister of Turkey to distort the  Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process proves once again what we have  been emphasized on numerous occasions that Turkey should be kept away  from the settlement process as far as possible," he says.  Regarding  the Turkish Foreign Minister's statement on the normalization of the  Armenian-Turkish relations, Kocharyan says that if Ankara really  wanted to normalize relations with Armenia, it would have ratified  and implemented the Armenian-Turkish protocols signed back in 2009 in  Zurich.

To recall, On October 12 Mevlut Cavusoglu, Minister of Foreign  Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, stated at the autumn plenary  session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)  that Turkey has exerted sincere efforts for peaceful settlement of  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "The Minsk Group and Russia are making  efforts for the settlement of the conflict. The issue of withdrawing  Armenian Armed Forces' troops from the occupied Azerbaijani  territories, particularly from the 5 districts has been on the agenda  recently. Russia has shared these efforts with us, and so did we.   It's because we support any solution that is in Azerbaijan's  interests", the Turkish minister noted. At the same time, the Turkish  Minister touched upon the Armenian-Turkish relations and stressed  that Ankara seeks to mend the relations with Armenia. The FM added  that Turkey has also tried to normalize bilateral ties with Armenia,  signing an agreement in Switzerland (Zurich protocols in 2009 -  editor's note), however the process failed.