Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Trend News in an exclusive interview.
Trend News: According to the western media reports, Turkey is getting prepared to rebuild diplomatic ties and open borders with Armenia. There is an opinion that if this happens, an important for Baku factor in negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will disappear. Does Turkey take this into consideration?
Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Azerbaijan’s interests are always important for Turkey. We will never betray Azerbaijan. As a head of Turkish government I would like to speak particularly on one issue. In order to rebuild relations with Armenia we expressed our will. The normalization talks between Turkey and Armenia have entered a sensitive phase. The protocols guiding the establishment and development of relations between our countries will be sent to the Turkish Parliament next month for ratification.
We have reached an important stage with the step we have taken with Switzerland’s mediation and I believe we can send the initialed document to Parliament if we do not face any prejudice and if steps are not taken by thinking just about the internal politics.
But especially I would like to explain that: Our efforts are not against our brother Azerbaijan. We will not agree on anything what is against the interest of Azerbaijan. We can approach the agreement but it definitely depends on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.
Q: Media reports claim Turkey and Armenia will sign a landmark deal to establish diplomatic ties on October 10. Can you confirm that?
A: The foreign ministers will come together on October 10, or October 11 and sign the draft document. Foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Eduard Nalbandian will ink two protocols, the texts of which had been agreed earlier and internationally hailed as a major breakthrough.
Q: You met on Friday with US President Barack Obama, on the sidelines of the G 20 summit in Pittsburgh. According to some reports Nagorno-Karabakh was discussed at this meeting. Can you give any more details on that meeting?
A: We discussed problems in the Middle East and Turkey, as well as relations among Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia, with Mr. Obama stressing the importance of improved our ties for the region as a whole. I think it would be easier if the OSCE’s Minsk Group – tasked to find a solution to the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh – took more active measures. The time already has come. The United States as the co-chair of MG must follow its duties. This problem must be solved. I told Mr. Obama that if it is solved that it will turn on the green lights for regional cooperation, including our relationship with Armenia. There was need for dialogue that would bring together regional countries, referring to Turkey’s proposal of a stability and cooperation platform in the Caucasus. Turkey aimed to make the region a basin of peace and wanted to solve Azerbaijan-Armenia, Turkey-Armenia and Russia-Georgia problems through this platform.
Q: As to regional cooperation, what are your estimations about Nabucco pipeline project, in which Turkey is also participating?
A: We already past part of the way for this project. Recently we signed a contract with a number of European countries. As part of my trip to New York I also met with the president of Turkmenistan. To realize this project all the participants should show particularly efforts.
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