 Turkey to hold talks with Armenia on proposal of Caucasian union project
Turkey to hold talks with Armenia on proposal of Caucasian union project
Turkey has sped up its efforts on works to form a stability and partnership forum in the Caucasus and plans to hold talks with neighboring Armenia, which Ankara has no diplomatic relations for more than a decade.
"The talks would also be held with Armenia. The foreign minister (Ali Babacan) would meet his Russian counterpart (Sergei Lavrov) this week to hold talks. After those talks, the shape of the contacts with Armenia would be determined," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told reporters.
There is no diplomatic relations between two countries, as Armenia presses the international community to admit the so-called "genocide" claims instead of accepting Turkey's call to investigate the allegations, and its invasion of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory despite U.N. Security Council resolutions on the issue.
Erdogan pays a visit to Azerbaijan to discuss his proposal of a forming a Caucasian union with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.
Turkey had proposed the formation of the "Caucasian Stability and Partnership Platform" to resolve the disputed issues in the region through diplomacy and to enhance economic ties after the clashes that erupted between Russian and Georgian forces.
Erdogan said the proposal was welcomed by both the Russian and Georgian leaders. "The recent situation in Georgia had confirmed the urgent need of ensuring peace, trust and stability in the Caucasus. We as Turkey have crucial interest in doing that," he added.
The United States has not been informed about such an initiative, Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs told on Tuesday. He added he was surprised by Turkey's efforts. hurriyet.com.tr/english/
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