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BAKU: US State Secretary for Improving Armenian-Turkish Relations

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  • BAKU: US State Secretary for Improving Armenian-Turkish Relations

    TREND Information, Azerbaijan
    Sept 29 2007



    US State Secretary for Improving Armenian-Turkish Relations


    Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. E.Huseynli / Assistant Secretary of
    State, OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Matthew J. Bryza considers
    regulation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh
    and improving of the Armenian-Turkish relations will strengthen ties
    between Azerbaijan and Turkey.


    `I am ready to do my best to settle the Karabakh conflict and to
    improve the Turkish-Armenian relations. Resolution of these issues
    will strengthen ties between Azerbaijan and Turkey,' Matthew J.Bryza
    said in the interview to the Turkish NTV channel.


    The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in
    1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia
    has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the
    Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since
    1992, these territories have been under the occupation of the
    Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire
    agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs
    of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are currently
    holding peaceful negotiations.


    Armenia occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani territories and lodges
    territorial complaints against Turkey. Turkey is the ally and
    strategic partner of Azerbaijan and has no diplomatic relations with
    Armenia and has been closed its boundaries since 1990s. Turkey stated
    three conditions before Armenia for regulation of the relations, to
    stop territorial complaints against Turkey, to withdraw troops from
    the Azerbaijani occupied territories, as well as not to raise the
    issue concerning recognition of the Armenian genocide in 1915 and
    1918 by the Ottoman Empire on the international arena.


    `The US positively accepts the steps directed to improving of
    relations between Turkey and Armenia. It would be better if Armenia
    and Turkey make efforts to normalize economic and diplomatic
    relations,' Bryza said.


    `I understand the difficulty of these issues as I am the OSCE Minsk
    Group co-chairman on regulation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
    over Nagorno-Karabakh,' Bryza added.
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