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ISTANBUL: Turkish FM says sees positive signs of breakthrough in NK

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  • ISTANBUL: Turkish FM says sees positive signs of breakthrough in NK

    Today's Zaman, Turkey
    June 3 2011

    Turkish FM says sees positive signs of breakthrough in Nagorno-Karabakh

    03 June 2011, Friday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,


    Soldiers dressed in First World War uniforms march during a military
    parade to celebrate Italy's 150th anniversary of unification, in Rome
    on Thursday.

    Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu has said he sees positive signs of a
    breakthrough in a dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, welcoming
    Azerbaijan's `determined and optimistic' position on the conflict.

    DavutoÄ?lu told reporters in Rome, where he was to participate in the
    150th anniversary of Italy's unification, that he had a chance to
    greet Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan on a bus in which both were
    returning from the ceremony but said 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
    next month 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. DavutoÄ?lu said he had a chance to discuss
    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 G-8
    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,' DavutoÄ?lu said after having 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,' DavutoÄ?lu stressed.

    DavutoÄ?lu 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,'
    DavutoÄ?lu added.



    Noting that he had discussed regional issues in his talks, DavutoÄ?lu
    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, DavutoÄ?lu said Turkey is in
    constant contact with Syria, welcoming Syrian President Bashar
    al-Assad's move on Wednesday to pardon political prisoners.



    DavutoÄ?lu joined leaders from some 80 countries on Thursday to review
    a military parade near the Colosseum.

    June 2 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.

    Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, US Vice President Joe Biden,
    Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Argentine President Cristina
    Fernandez all paid a visit to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

    Turkish President Abdullah Gül was also invited to the ceremony but
    had to cancel his trip at the last minute because of illness.
    DavutoÄ?lu represented Turkey in Rome.

    The center 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.

    DavutoÄ?lu said it was an honor for him to attend the ceremony in a
    country such as Italy, a friend of Turkey.



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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