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BAKU: Turkish envoy smoothes Turkish-Azeri relations post-CoE

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  • BAKU: Turkish envoy smoothes Turkish-Azeri relations post-CoE

    Turkish envoy smoothes Turkish-Azeri relations post-Council of Europe

    ANS TV, Baku
    3 May 04

    [Presenter] Good evening. Today is the Day of Turks [as heard]. Our
    guest is Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Ahmet Unal Cevikoz and we
    will speak about the region of the Turkic-speaking countries and their
    problems. Mr Ambassador, you are welcome. Happy Holiday!

    [Cevikoz, in Turkish] Good evening. Happy Holiday!

    [Presenter] How do you mark this day?

    [Cevikoz ] Naturally, I am very happy to mark this day once in
    Azerbaijan, in a state of Turkic nation. I congratulate all the Turkic
    world. The Day of Turks is being marked in Azerbaijan and Turkey
    today. As a guest on your programme, I wish Happy Day of Turks to all
    onlookers both in Azerbaijan and in the whole Turkic world.

    [Passage omitted: details of mutual relations between Turkey and
    Turkic-speaking countries, the policy to reach the unity between these
    countries, the outcome of the voting over the unification of Cyprus]

    [Presenter] Mr Ambassador, the Turkish mass media focused for a few
    days on the absence of the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation,
    except one person, in the Council of Europe discussions in Strasbourg
    over Cyprus. Did you meet some [Azerbaijani] officials and did you
    discuss the incident?

    [Cevikoz] No. I didn't. Of course, this was the session of
    MPs. Naturally, I do not know who attended the session or what
    consequences produced the absence of Azerbaijani MPs. However, the
    Azerbaijani ambassador to the Council of Europe, Aqsin Mehdiyev, made
    a statement in this regard and I learnt about the incident after
    this. If Azerbaijani MPs are concerned over this issue, then I think
    that the [Turkish] media will behave in a way that will not give cause
    for concern in the future.

    [Presenter] The Turkish newspapers wrote that the issue gave serious
    offence to Turkey. Is it really the case?

    [Cevikoz] In fact, reporters sometimes write such things. In any case
    I hope that Turkey and Azerbaijan might not resent each other. If
    there is something which caused offence, then I think necessary
    measures will be taken so that such behaviour causing offence can be
    stopped.

    [Presenter] Mr Ambassador, does Turkey understand Azerbaijan's
    sensitivity to the Nagornyy Karabakh problem?

    [Cevikoz] I think, wrong parallels are drawn here. Because the Cyprus
    and the Nagornyy Karabakh problems are incomparably different.

    [Presenter] No, I do not speak about parallels. I mean that Azerbaijan
    has a very serious problem. I mean Azerbaijan's concern that tomorrow
    the international public might increase pressure on Azerbaijan
    [presumably if it recognizes the Northern Cyprus]. Azerbaijan has a
    serious and unresolved problem. I said this not in terms of parallels.

    [Cevikoz] Azerbaijan's problem needs a solution [word indistinct]. Of
    course, many mechanisms exist for the Karabakh resolution. They are
    being carried out. The Minsk Group co-chairmen have certain activities
    in this sphere. There is a direct process of dialogue between
    Azerbaijan and Armenia. As Turkey, we are doing our best for the
    resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. As you know, Turkey has
    been a member of the OSCE Minsk Group from the day of its creation and
    is actively joining the Minsk Group activities. After or before their
    visit to the region, the co-chairmen certainly are informing Turkey of
    their meetings.

    [Passage omitted: plans about the meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish
    and Armenian foreign ministers in Turkey, views over the Georgian
    events]
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