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Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Within its power Turkey gives every support to Azerbaijan in Nagorno Karabakh conflict - EXCLUSIVE

Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Within its power Turkey gives every support to Azerbaijan in Nagorno Karabakh conflict - <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE</font>

13 November 2007 16:19 (UTC +04:00)

Exclusive interview of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to APAâ€™s local bureau

- The U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved the bill on the so-called Armenian genocide in October this year. As it was expected, Turkeyâ€™s position was so severe that some democratic congressmen withdrew their signatures from the bill. Will Turkey be committed to this position against the legislative body of the US, Turkeyâ€™s friend and ally for long years?
- Adoption of the draft Resolution 106, which characterizes the events of 1915 as genocide, by the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on October 10 is very regretful. The adoption of this bill caused fair protest of both our government and the people. US governmentâ€™s decisive move to prevent the House of Representatives from putting the unjust and groundless bill on the agenda is praiseworthy. The recent processes show that some members of the Congress, who supported the bill, also understand our anxiety and fair arguments. In this regard, I would like to underline that I believe the members of the Congress will act with the responsibility of Turkish-American friendship and that we will continue our activity for preventing the adoption of the bill, which may damage our relations with the US. Turkey put forward constructive proposals for revealing historical truths. We offered Armenia to establish a joint historical commission for investigating the events of 1915, to search the archives in Turkey, Armenia and third countries and inform the international community about the results. We will not forget that instead of accepting our proposal, which we believed will establish friendship and cooperation in the region, Armenia pursues purposeful policy, directed towards the adoption of the bill, both behind the curtains and openly.
- The letter your wrote to Armenian president in May in 2005 and your goodwill was not reacted analogously. The governmentâ€™s program does not touch on this issue either. Did you think of reviewing the relations with Armenia after the decision of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs? Armenian president and foreign minister greeted this decision.
- We proposed establishment of joint historical commission, opening of archives, establishing condition for historiansâ€™ investigations in these archives taking step on strengthening relations with Armenia in 2005. But Armenia did not reply to our gesture. On the contrary we saw that Armenia supported decision of US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. This approach does not coincide with neighborhood policy. We are taking several steps unilaterally, but do not see its response. Can we hope in normalizing relations in such a situation? Our relations can not be normalized if Armenia raises issues between the two countries in the Parliaments of the third countries.
-Withdrawal of Armenians who occupied 20% of Azerbaijani lands caused vain of the settlement of the conflict in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group. But Azerbaijan states that it will use all means for liberating its lands. Is it not time for signing security cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan?
-You know Turkeyâ€™s position on the occupation of Nagorno Karabakh and 7 surrounding regions of Azerbaijan by Armenians. Turkey always supports Azerbaijan in the framework of its capabilities. Turkey continues to support efforts on eliminating invasion fact which is opposed to international law norms as a member of OSCE Minsk Group. Our support in this direction will further continue. We believe in the necessity of solving problem peacefully and in the frame of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Turkey and Azerbaijan cooperate in many fields, namely in political, military, economic, commercial, cultural and other sectors. We achieved development and strengthening of mutual cooperation through mutual respect and activity. We think that our cooperation sticks to strong legal bases. We are proud of Azerbaijanâ€™s taking estimable place in world and region through reforms Azerbaijan carries out in economics, democracy and human rights, Azerbaijanâ€™s rich energy resources. We continue our activity for implementing railway project Bakuâ€“Tbilisi-Kars after pipelines Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum we implemented jointly with fraternal Azerbaijan and neighbor Georgia. The main issue is to strengthen and deepen our relations with such strategic and economic projects.
- How do you assess significance of 11th Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation Congress of Turkic States and Communities to be held in Baku on November 17-19 with your participation?
- Role of NGOs is great in the formation of public opinion in Western countries. Decision was made on uniting principles and purposes of Turkish and Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations in the 1st Forum of Turkish-Azerbaijani Diasporas I attended along with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held in Baku on March 9, 2007. I believe that 11th Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation Congress of Turkic States and Communities to be held in Baku on November 17-19 will be right step to be taken in this direction. /APA/