An Azerbaijani deputy has expressed hope that the Dialogue Eurasia (DA) Platform may manage to smooth out relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have been at odds for many years over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The DA Platform has significant influence on Caucasian nations. I believe this influence may be used to give an end to the 15-year-old grief in the region," stated Professor Nizami Caferov, adding that the platform may help find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue over which Azerbaijan and Armenia have been at odds for years. Nagorno-Karabakh's mostly ethnic Armenian population broke away from Azerbaijan in a war in the early 1990s as the Soviet Union collapsed. It now runs its own affairs, with support from Armenia.
"As an Azerbaijani who is closely interested in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, I wish Armenian intellectuals had participated in today's conference. I wish they had expressed their opinions to contribute to the peace process [between Azerbaijan and Armenia]. It is possible to search for solutions to such issues as Nagorno-Karabakh in such platforms," Caferov said. His remarks came during a conference titled "Tolerance and Discrimination in Education," held last Friday in the southern city of Antalya by the DA Platform. "Conflicts do not provide benefits to any nation. Humanity wants peace. Turkish President Abdullah Gul recently held talks with Armenian officials. This was a step taken for regional peace," Caferov went on to say. He also stated that the Azerbaijanis were ready for the solution of problems with Armenia and added: "The Azerbaijani and Armenian heads of state had a meeting in Moscow. This is a very serious development." Journalists and Writers Association (GYV) President Harun Tokak stressed he hopes the DA Platform creates an atmosphere of peace among the nations. "We find work by the DA Platform in the field of tolerance and dialogue to be sincere. I hope this platform will take concrete steps in these fields. I believe it will become Eurasia's conscience," he stated.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
