Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakhconflict will affect a normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the Moscow State Institute on Wednesday, the Russia 24 television channel reported.
"Resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict will play a certain role in a normalization of the Turkey - Armenia relations," Erdogan said.
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due to Armenia's claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been broken since 1993.
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 and the surrounding regions.
Erdogan also stressed Russia's role in the negotiation process.
"Organization of the trilateral talks with Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia is an important initiative," Erdogan said.
The meeting held in Sochi on March 5 was the eighth tripartite meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.
Astrakhan hosted a trilateral meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia - Ilham Aliyev, Dmitry Medvedev and Serzh Sargsyan on Oct. 27. The parties signed a declaration envisaging the return of POWs. It is of humanitarian nature.
Erdogan said the Turkey- Russia cooperation will create conditions for development and prosperity of throughout the region.
Erdogan, who arrived with a three-day visit to Moscow on Tuesday, is expected to hold talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today.
The meetings will focus on trade and economic cooperation, including the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant, Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline and South Stream.
As a part of the visit timed to the 90th anniversary of the Russia-Turkey treaty of friendship, Erdogan will attend the Russian-Turkish Cooperation Council’s meeting.
He is accompanied by seven ministers, including foreign, energy, industry and agriculture, as well as about 200 representatives of Turkish business circles.
On Tuesday, Medvedev and Erdogan already met at a working dinner and discussed economic cooperation between the two countries, including in energy sector. Medvedev and Erdogan also discussed regional issues including the situation in Iraq and the Middle East in general.
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