The hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan ceased upon reaching an agreement between both nations. In accordance with the agreement, Armenia was mandated to hand over territories beyond Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan. These territories which used to be under the control of Armenian forceswould be vacated for Russian peacekeepers, in a bid to secure the area which used to be a conflict zone.
Furthermore, Armenia agrees to stay clear of the road construction connecting Nakhichevan to Azerbaijan.Baku also agreed to deploy Russian peacekeepers in the region, while the Russian army will control the road that will connect Armenia through Azerbaijan from Lachin region to Nagorno-Karabakh. The President of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, agreed to create a transit corridorfor Azerbaijan in order to allow for safe connection to its enclave in Nakhichevan.
This corridor will also be under Russian surveillance. Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan was quoted to say, “Russia and Turkey will be deployed in peace center of Nagorno-Karabakh”, and this is clearly highlighted in the Agreement with the clear definition of the role of Turkey in the “Joint Peace Monitoring Center”.
“EuropeTime” spoke to the Turkish Ambassador to Georgia, Fatma Ceren Yazgan about the role of Turkey as member of NATO in the Nagorno-Karabakh situation, other current situations and processes in the region, as well as,the Turkish-Georgian relations.
The NK issue is a permanent source of instability in the region. Turkey, in accordance with the UNSC resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884, has been calling on Armenia to end its occupation of internationally recognized Azerbaijani territories for nearly 30 years. The ceasefire is a promising step and can pave the way for a lasting solution. We believe that stability in the region will benefit Armenia too.
These regional developments are however not a source of concern for the bilateral relations between Turkey and Georgia.“Turkey perceives Georgia as a true strategic partner.
Turkey has always advocated for Georgia’s inclusion into the NATO. We will continue to support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations, especially its ongoing efforts for NATO membership”, Ambassador of Turkey to Georgia, Fatma Ceren Yazgan affirmed.
"At the request of Azerbaijan, we agreed to monitor the ceasefire. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia, which will ensure the presence of Turkish troops in the joint peace center”.
The Ambassador further stressed.“Turkey, as the only NATO member country in the region, has been a NATO member state since 1952 and has always supported cooperation between the Alliance and South Caucasus states including Armenia. Neither Turkey’s membership to NATO, nor our support to NATO’s partnership with our neighbors are new.”
Fatma Ceren Yazgan continued in his explanation of Turkey's support for States in the Caucasus region. When pressed about our interview with General Ben Hodges, where he highlighted Turkey as the biggest ally of the West on the Euro-Atlantic path, and he suggested that it would be good if the USA would increase its infrastructure and rotational forces. The Turkish Ambassador submitted that“ It is Georgia's own business and concerns bilateral relation between Georgia and US.”
