The Russian and Turkish presidents meeting held in Ankara May 12, can serve as an impetus to the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Adviser on Eurasia Geybulla Ramazanoglu belives.
According to the report of Trend News, Ramazanoglu said, “All subsequent negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which will be held after the Russian and Turkish presidents meeting, should be successful.”
During his official visit to Turkey, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev voiced Moscow’s intention to promote stability in the Caucasus region, and in particular, resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict together with Turkey.
“Both Russia and Turkey are interested in strengthening stability in the Caucasus region, including Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and I from my part, I mean the Russian Federation, we will advance this process, using all possible authority and influence,” Medvedev said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group — Russia, France, and the U.S. — are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.
"The sides, who claim on an interest in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including members of the Minsk Group, in reality do not always support Azerbaijan, and now Turkey has a real chance to lobby for Azerbaijan,“Ramazanoglusaid.
If the OSCE Minsk Group continues to act in a successful direction for solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, then Turkey also may consider participation in this negotiation process, Erdogan said in a joint press conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Ankara.
“Our task now is to push Armenia and Azerbaijan to reach a certain point, which can be considered as the beginning of a peaceful settlement of the conflict. We, from our part, will do our best to contribute to continuation of this process,” Erdogan said.
However,Ramazanoglusaid, Turkey is unlikely to be the fourth co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.
“The fact that Turkey can become a co-chair of the OSCE — insignificant words, as Armenia would never give its consent,” he said.
However, even if Turkey’s intervention in this matter does not guarantee a solution to the conflict, it can protect Azerbaijan’s interests, Ramazanoglu noted.
AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL ANALYSTS DISAGREE ON IMPACT OF TURKISH-RUSSIAN RAPPROCHEMENT ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
Azerbaijani political analysts disagree on the possible positive impact of the Turkish-Russian rapprochement on resolving of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Turkish-Russian rapprochement, mutual visits of the Presidents, and, moreover, the abolition of the visa regime will have a positive impact on resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, strengthening of Azerbaijani position, political analyst Fikret Sadikhov toldTrendtoday.
He said that Russia has always been an ally and a major military and financial sponsor of Armenia because of concerns over Russian-Turkish confrontation. Moscow relied on Yerevan as a springboard, the military and political base from which it will be possible to resist the influence of Ankara.
“Now, actual Russian-Armenian alliance is not so strong amid strengthening of relations between Turkey and Russia,” analyst said. He said that the last meeting of the presidents of Turkey and Russia, their agreement to cancel the visa regime can give a new impetus to the peace negotiations of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Drawing an analogy between the Turkish side’s statements about the readiness to engage in mediation efforts in this matter and Russian Defense Minister’s visit to Baku, which followed the participation of President Ilham Aliyev in Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Sadikhov expressed his belief in the influence of these processes to accelerate resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
“Armenia has been driven into a corner. It should give a clear answer about the update Madrid principles. It rushes about and understands that this document will lead to de-occupation of Azerbaijani territories in any version,” he said.
Another Azerbaijani political analyst, Director of the Center for Political Technologies and Innovations Mubariz Ahmedoglu is skeptical regarding discussion of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem by the Presidents of Turkey and Russia.
“I do not think Russia is ready to discuss with Turkey the issue of resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia voluntarily or forcibly will withdraw other co-chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group from the game, influence on them for its own interests,” Ahmedoglu said.
He said that Russia will make every effort to prevent joining of other countries in the region, including Turkey and Iran, the process.
“Statements by Medvedev in Ankara were sounded to pay tribute to Turkey. The statements of the Turkish side are sincere. They want processes on resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to intensify,” the Center director said.
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