Expert: no premises for Turkey's involvement in Karabakh process

August 18, 2011 - 17:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's attempts to create an illusion of interest in resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will to all appearance fail, an Armenian expert said.

Commenting to a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter on the forthcoming meeting between Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, turkologist Ruben Melkonyan said that there are no premises for Turkey's involvement in Karabakh process.

“Turkey always strived to become a regional power but it will not succeed as Ankara’s intentions are not sincere. Inclusion of Karabakh issue in the agenda of Gul-Medvedev talks is an end in itself rather than interest,” he said.

Turkish media reports say that Turkish and Russian Presidents will discuss the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the sidelines of a global political forum to be held in Yaroslavl, Russia, on September 7-8. Abdullah Gul and Dmitry Medvedev will also focus on Iran’s nuclear program and the recent developments in Middle East.

The forum will be attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Latvian President Valdis Zatlers.

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.