Turkish and Azeri FMs discussed the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net - The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey met in İstanbul for an unofficial meeting, during which they reaffirmed the neighboring countries' understanding of "one nation, two states."



Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, were together for a one-and-a-half-hour dinner.



"We have reviewed all developments in the region with the understanding of 'one nation, two states,' as we have always done. We have together discussed the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the recent period, the other developments in the region and, in addition, the developments in our bilateral relations, which are proceeding extremely well. This was not an officially planned meeting," Davutoğlu responded to questions from reporters following the dinner.



After decades of hostility, Turkey and Armenia announced in April a "roadmap" for re-establishing diplomatic relations and opening their shared border. But Ankara's ally Azerbaijan said Armenia should first leave Nagorno-Karabakh, a mostly ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away after fighting a bloody war with Azerbaijan in the 1990s and claims independence. Turkey then offered support for the Azerbaijani position, complicating further progress in talks with Armenia, turkishny.com reports.



Davutoğlu was reminded of remarks by his Armenian counterpart, Edward Nalbandian, who had said Yerevan expects Ankara to take new steps for the normalization of bilateral ties and was asked to elaborate on those possible steps.



"I have always said, 'Steps are steps that should be taken mutually.' As Turkey, our eventual goal is maintaining permanent stability, peace and welfare in the region. This doesn't take place via unilateral steps. All parties should take steps with goodwill. Turkey has shown in the past that it will take steps with goodwill toward the entire region. But permanent peace can be maintained in case of mutually taking these steps. Indeed, we have dealt with these issues," Davutoğlu replied.



Mammadyarov, who described his meeting with Davutoğlu as "very important and good," was asked about the current phase of negotiations between Baku and Yerevan.



Mammadyarov said negotiations were "still under way".