Turkey was aware of the fact that Armenia-Turkey reconciliation is insufficient for establishment of long-waited peace and stability in the South Caucasus in the course of the whole negotiation process with Yerevan, reads the article by Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu published in Russian Global Affairs magazine.

According to Davutoglu, “occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia causing the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh impeded further cooperation in the Caucasus on the regional and international scene.”

“Progress achieved at the recent talks between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents – Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev was critical for conflict resolution, as the technique worked out by OSCE Minsk Group produced no tangible and concrete results,” Davutoglu considers.

In his article Turkish FM also stresses that OSCE MG, having Turkey its member remains the only international tool capable of urging sides to take specific steps for overcoming disagreements as well as achievement of peaceful settlement.

Commenting on the current stage of Armenia-Turkey reconciliation, Davutoglu underlined that Turkey is not unhopeful about restoration of Ankara-Yerevan relations “that to date remain missing link in the whole picture that Ankara would like to see in the South Caucasus.” Turkish diplomat calls Protocols’ signing “unprecedented step forward directed towards removal of legal and psychological barriers that separated two neighboring nations so far.”

According to him, Ankara is confident that progress in Armenia-Turkey relations should be supplemented and develop in specific steps towards Karabakh conflict resolution. “Only in case of all-embracing settlement we will preserve atmosphere of reconciliation and elimination of remained barriers impeding the dialogue, cooperation and peace in the region. It will definitely demand political will and courage,” Davutoglu concluded.

A.G.