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Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 23 2013
Newspaper: Turkey offers Armenia to participate in regional project in
case of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement
Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 23 /Trend E.Tariverdiyeva/
Turkey has proposed that Armenia take part in its comprehensive
regional transportation project linking Europe to Asia, if there are
concrete developments in solving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, presenting
this proposal also to OSCE Minsk Group, Turkish Hürriyet Daily News
newspaper reported.
With reference to diplomatic sources, the newspaper said Ankara is
trying to activate OSCE Minsk Group.
"We introduced the Integrated Transportation Corridors Project to the
Minsk Group in November 2012. This project is to be implemented in
peace time and particularly after Armenia moves on with regard to its
occupation in seven regions bordering Nagorno-Karabakh. We are
proposing full normalization of ties between Turkey-Armenia and
Armenia-Azerbaijan," Turkish diplomatic sources told the Hürriyet
Daily News.
According to the newspaper, Turkey submitted its project to the Minsk
Group during the meeting in Vienna on November 8, 2012.
"It has received a positive response from all Minsk Group countries.
We have made clear to them that this project is aiming at creating a
peace perspective to the benefit of all relevant parties," the
newspaper's sources noted.
As the newspaper stated, the proposed transportation project has two
phases. On the one hand it is focused on linking Turkey, Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russian Federation through fixing unused railways and
building new ones.
"Along with the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project that is expected to
be concluded by
the end of this year, the Turkey-Armenia railway may be re-opened
after just a minor rehabilitation," the newspaper said.
In consideration with the economic prospects and strategic importance
that the outer region of the Caucasus offers, Turkey's project also
addresses the need to link regional countries to Europe and Asia, the
newspaper wrote. A transportation line between London and Beijing will
soon be possible with the conclusion of the Marmaray Project and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, while normalization of the political
situation in the region would also allow Armenia to join this growing
strategic picture, sources close to the project claim.
In addition, according to the sources of the Turkish newspaper,
Azerbaijan has been informed about the content of the project by
Turkey.
"We have made clear them that this is a project that will be
implemented only after Armenia moves towards peace," Azerbaijani
sources stressed, the newspaper reported.
Armenia, however, has so far remained cool to Turkey's project, and
has not conveyed an official reaction through the Minsk Group.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four U.N. Security Council resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Feb 23 2013
Newspaper: Turkey offers Armenia to participate in regional project in
case of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement
Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 23 /Trend E.Tariverdiyeva/
Turkey has proposed that Armenia take part in its comprehensive
regional transportation project linking Europe to Asia, if there are
concrete developments in solving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, presenting
this proposal also to OSCE Minsk Group, Turkish Hürriyet Daily News
newspaper reported.
With reference to diplomatic sources, the newspaper said Ankara is
trying to activate OSCE Minsk Group.
"We introduced the Integrated Transportation Corridors Project to the
Minsk Group in November 2012. This project is to be implemented in
peace time and particularly after Armenia moves on with regard to its
occupation in seven regions bordering Nagorno-Karabakh. We are
proposing full normalization of ties between Turkey-Armenia and
Armenia-Azerbaijan," Turkish diplomatic sources told the Hürriyet
Daily News.
According to the newspaper, Turkey submitted its project to the Minsk
Group during the meeting in Vienna on November 8, 2012.
"It has received a positive response from all Minsk Group countries.
We have made clear to them that this project is aiming at creating a
peace perspective to the benefit of all relevant parties," the
newspaper's sources noted.
As the newspaper stated, the proposed transportation project has two
phases. On the one hand it is focused on linking Turkey, Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russian Federation through fixing unused railways and
building new ones.
"Along with the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project that is expected to
be concluded by
the end of this year, the Turkey-Armenia railway may be re-opened
after just a minor rehabilitation," the newspaper said.
In consideration with the economic prospects and strategic importance
that the outer region of the Caucasus offers, Turkey's project also
addresses the need to link regional countries to Europe and Asia, the
newspaper wrote. A transportation line between London and Beijing will
soon be possible with the conclusion of the Marmaray Project and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, while normalization of the political
situation in the region would also allow Armenia to join this growing
strategic picture, sources close to the project claim.
In addition, according to the sources of the Turkish newspaper,
Azerbaijan has been informed about the content of the project by
Turkey.
"We have made clear them that this is a project that will be
implemented only after Armenia moves towards peace," Azerbaijani
sources stressed, the newspaper reported.
Armenia, however, has so far remained cool to Turkey's project, and
has not conveyed an official reaction through the Minsk Group.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four U.N. Security Council resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.