Turkey shown the red line on Karabakh issue it must not cross, official says
Spokesman for the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President David Babayan highly appreciates the recent statement adopted by the heads of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states, which once again reiterates the organization’s support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group towards the settlement of the conflict, as well as the three key principles of the Karabakh settlement process – non-use of force and the threat of force, territorial integrity and the right of peoples to self-determination.
“This is a very important statement given the fact that recently several countries, such as Turkey, are indirectly trying to undermine the OSCE Minsk Group format. We see what statements that country makes and its active involvement in the geopolitical processes in Transcaucasia, namely the settlement of Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict. These are very dangerous steps, which can lead to more complications. The latest statement of the heads of the CSTO member states, I think, is a response to Turkey’s such behavor,” Mr. Babayan said in an interview with Panorama.am.
The Artsakh official also underscored the recent meeting between the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office with the Turkish leadership in Ankara. According to the official, during the meeting Turkey was shown the red line that it must not cross.
“Such efforts of the international community in the person of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group are aimed at putting Turkey in its place to prevent the country from further complicating the situation,” Babayan highlighted.
He next reflected on the recent remarks of the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu saying his country will support any resolution on the Karabakh settlement, which will satisfy Azerbaijan. “The Azerbaijani president once again announced that Artsakh is allegedly their historical land, and Armenian are newcomers there. So what? Does Turkey accept that Armenians are newcomers? This is another basis for a new genocide,” he highlighted.
Speaking about the upcoming meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers scheduled for Vienna on December 6, David Babayan noted it will ensure a push in Karabakh peace talks.
“All such meetings are important. The maintenance of peace and stability is very important,” he concluded.
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