Giving an interview to Azerbaijani Azadliq newspaper, Azerbaijani political expert Elhan Sahinoglu commented on the recent developments in the relations among Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Commenting on the recent statements of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that Turkey also wants the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia to be opened, Sahinoglu said, "Davutoglu stated that Nagorno-Karabakh problem should be solved for the opening of Turkish-Armenian borders. Ankara does not give up on this condition. Actually that is what matters. According to the Madrid principles that Azerbaijani administration already accepted for the resolution of the problem, Azerbaijan will have to open borders to Armenia after Armenia ends the occupation."
Asked whether Turkey's co-chairmanship to OSCE Minsk Group is possible, Sahinoglu said, "We really want Turkey to be co-chair. But unfortunately it is not dependent to the wishes of Ankara and Baku. Yerevan rejects Turkey's co-chairmanship stating that Turkey supports one of the parties of the conflict. Although Turkey is not co-chair, it is the member of OSCE MG. Therefore, it means that Turkey cannot be kept out of the process.
But currently, the only factor that prevents Turkey's co-chairmanship is Russia. Kremlin is not telling Turkey directly "NO" because of the high level political and economical cooperation. On the other hand, it does everything it can to prevent Turkey's association with the process of resettlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Recently, an official from Russian Foreign Ministry told that Kremlin is not against Turkey's co-chairmanship and the approvals of the parties of the conflict is necessary for Turkey's co-chairmanship. Briefly speaking, they are adressing Armenia for this issue while they are already controling it."
Asked whether the approval of the parties of the conflict is necessary for co-chairmanship, Sahinoglu said, "If it was necessary, France would not have been co-chair. In 1997, OSCE term president announced France as the co-chair although Azerbaijan was towards Germany's co-chairmanship. They made France co-chair upon the will of Armenia and against the will of Azerbaijan. If Russia and the West wants, Turkey's co-chairmanship would be possible. They just do not want it."
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