Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin spoke on the Turkish broadcaster “Haber Global” about the process of normalizing relations with Armenia and the Artsakh issue.
He stressed that they are in principle positively disposed toward the process of normalizing relations with Armenia. He recalled that in 1992, the reason for the suspension of diplomatic relations with Armenia and the closure of the Armenian-Turkish border was the Artsakh war, which he called the “occupation of Karabakh.”
“And now, when that issue has already been resolved, there is no longer any obstacle to the normalization of relations with Armenia. However, in the Karabakh issue there are still questions that require a solution,” Kalin said.
Erdogan’s spokesman also noted that although a ceasefire has been established in Karabakh, to this day no peace treaty has been signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“The peace treaty is necessary for Armenia, for Azerbaijan, for the Caucasus, and for all of us. Its terms, of course, must be discussed and receive the approval of both sides,” Erdogan’s spokesman added.
According to Ibrahim Kalin, the aforementioned process continues and its next phase will be the signing of the treaty. “It does not matter whether it takes place under the auspices of the UN, the Minsk Group co-chairs, or with the involvement of other regional actors. What matters is that the treaty exists, that it is confirmed by Azerbaijan and accepted by Armenia. In this way, the issue will be fully resolved and set aside,” Kalin concluded.
