  Gul slams OSCE MG activity August 17, 2010 - 12:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish President Abdullah Gul reaffirmed his country’s unconditional support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and criticized international mediators ahead of a state visit to Baku that began on Monday. Reports from Baku said the two leaders signed a new Turkish-Azerbaijani agreement on “strategic partnership” and “mutual assistance.” Details of the agreement were not immediately made public. “We are one nation with separate states. We come together frequently based on such an understanding. We will continue our solidarity and cooperation,” Gul said at a press conference following his meeting with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, Asbarez.com reports. The Turkish president also took a swipe at U.S., Russian and French mediators co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group. “We want the Minsk Group to move close to the conflict’s resolution,” he said. “But as things stand now, people call visits to the region by Minsk Group representatives ‘tourist trips.’ Therefore, new steps need to be taken.” Gul appeared to single out Russia’s “important” role in the mediation process. But he also acknowledged that “such difficult problems can not solved under pressure from of a single country.” Related links:    The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. The OSCE Minsk Group The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 to encourage a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Minsk Group is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and the United States. The main objectives of the Minsk Process are as follows: Providing an appropriate framework for conflict resolution in the way of assuring the negotiation process supported by the Minsk Group; Obtaining conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict in order to permit the convening of the Minsk Conference; Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE multinational peacekeeping forces.  Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Topic Latest news The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity  The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization.Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia.Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty.Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |
