Turkey's activites towards resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh problem is being acknowledged. Russian Foreign Ministry official Andrey Nesterenko stated a few days ago that suggestion of Turkey's co-chairmanship to the OSCE Minsk Group might be considered. Chief of public policy department under Azerbaijan's presidential administration, Ali Hasanov said that changes in the format of OSCE Minsk Group is being negotiated and that Turkey's co-chairmanship to the Minsk Group is suggested.
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Germany, Finland, Holland, United States, Sweden, Portugal, Russia, France, Belarus and Italy are the members of OSCE Minsk Group, which was established in 1992. Co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group are United States, Russia and France since 1997. Recently, the organization is seriously being criticized because of the lack of progress in the resettlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem and Turkey's participation to the process is on the agenda.
Commenting on the suggestion of Turkey's chairmanship to the OSCE MG, Azerbaijani political scientist Vafa Guluzade said, "Prime Minister Erdogan used to criticize OSCE MG Co-chairs. Now, why would Turkey strengthen the activities of Minsk Group? Russia wants to make Turkey co-chair to prevent Turkey's criticism on OSCE MG. In my opinion, Turkey should be attentive on this issue. Because of Russia's unconstructive attitude and because of Russian influence on Armenia, OSCE MG has exposed itself. I mean, OSCE MG is not making any achievements and it is not going to. Because, everytime OSCE MG makes a new proposal, Russia will defend the principle of right of self determination of Armenians in Karabakh. Moscow was always against Turkey's participation in the Minsk Group, and now it suddenly changed its attitude."
Stating that the change in the policy of Kremlin is not without reasons, Guluzade said, "Russia changed its attitude towards participation of Turkey in the process. Erdogan was using every opportunity to bring Nagorno-Karabakh problem on the agenda during the negotiations over opening of Turkish-Armenian border with U.S. and France. That shows that Turkey's policy toward this issue is independent of Russia's. This, naturally disturbs Moscow. Russia wants to keep Turkey under control within the frames of OSCE MG. Because of Russia, Minsk Group could not make any achievements for years. The problems will not be suddenly solved as fast as Turkey becomes OSCE MG Co-chair. Contrarily, we will also criticize Turkey while we will be criticizing Minsk Group. Turkey should be careful."
Stressing that OSCE Minsk Group is being directed by Russia, Guluzade said, "In my opinion, OSCE Minsk Group Should be dismissed and a new organization should be formed. There is no place for Turkey in such a lier organization."
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