"Readiness to normalize relations with Armenia can be described as a move toward the EU membership," the TABDC chairman said.

Azeri media circulated reports that the Russian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers discussed a possibility to replace the OSCE Minsk Group.

"I am hopeful that Serzh Sargsyan's visit to Istanbul in 2009 will be another step toward normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations," the TABDC chairman said.

The U.S. has already voiced intention to leave the OSCE Minsk Group to avoid collaborating with Russia.

As a matter of fact, the European Union has nothing to do with it. The presidential meeting is the result of pragmatism manifested by the Armenian authorities, Sergei Markedonov said.

The Italian Foreign Minister welcomed the suggestion and said he would relay it to France, which holds the EU's rotating presidency.

Normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations should be considered apart from the Nagorno Karabakh process.

Turkish experts do not rule out that Presidents of Armenia, Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan can meet to discuss the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

It allows hope for progress soon in establishing normal relations between Turkey and Armenia, Sarkozy said.