Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sees positive signs of a breakthrough in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Davutoglu told reporters in Rome, where he attended the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification, that he had had a chance to greet Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on a bus in which both were returning from the ceremony. The Turkish minister said, however, that he had spent more time with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with whom he had an opportunity to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in some detail.
The foreign minister pinned his hope on the leaders’ meeting in Kazan later in June as part of the two presidents’ ongoing peace talks to find an enduring solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which has remained in limbo for over 20 years and is a major threat to regional peace in the South Caucasus.
Davutoglu said he had had a chance to discuss the peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the latest developments surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh during his meeting with Aliyev.
"Signs [of a breakthrough] are positive. Statements made by the G8 and [the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group] co-chairs are set to expedite the [peace] process. Let’s wait for the results of the Kazan meeting. We hope to see some positive steps," Davutoglu said after his talks with Aliyev in Rome on Thursday.
"I was happy to observe both the determination and the more optimistic point of view of Mr Aliyev," Davutoglu stressed.
Davutoglu also had numerous brief bilateral talks with state dignitaries on the margins of the ceremony in Rome. He had talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Slovenian President Danilo Turk, and the foreign ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Britain, India and Sweden. "Despite it being short, it was a productive trip," Davutoglu added.
Noting that he had discussed regional issues in his talks, Davutoglu claimed states feel the necessity to hear Turkey’s opinion as "history flows around Turkey today". He said he had an opportunity to comprehensively discuss developments, particularly those in the Middle East.
Speaking about the situation in Syria, Davutoglu said Turkey was in constant contact with Syria, welcoming Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s move on Wednesday to pardon political prisoners.
Davutoglu joined leaders from some 80 countries on Thursday to review a military parade near the Colosseum.
The date 2 June marks the birth of modern Italy on a peninsula where city-states and popes fought wars and thwarted unity for centuries. This year's 150th anniversary saw Italians pour into the capital from the north and the south.
The centre of Rome was locked down for a military parade watched by the leaders and dozens of others, including representatives from countries with large Italian immigrant populations such as Australia and Canada.
Davutoglu said it was an honour for him to attend the ceremony in a country such as Italy, a friend of Turkey.
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