The Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu welcomed the Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian's statement that the Azerbaijani territory, currently occupied by Armenian troops, could be returned in exchange for security and self-determination for the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Sarkisian, in comments published on his official website, which were made for the Syrian newspaper "Al-Watan," reiterated Yerevan's long-standing policy of Armenian forces withdrawing from seven Azerbaijani districts around Nagorno-Karabakh in case of reaching an agreement about its final status.
"When the people of Karabakh get a true chance to realize their right to self-determination and mechanisms for security and development are created, then in compromise the Armenian side can consider the return of the regions around Karabakh, preserving the corridor linking [it] and Armenia," Sarkisian said.
The Turkish minister said that Turkey will support all steps to achieve stability and lasting peace, and stressed the need to give impetus to efforts to resolve the Karabakh problem.
It is to be mentioned that the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1991 when a referendum was held on the status of Nagorno Karabakh in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, which previously was a part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
The Armenian population of Karabakh voted for independence from Baku, but the referendum was not recognized by international community.
Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh with support of Russian troops, following the ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis.
In May 1994, a treaty was signed envisaging a ceasefire and a start of peace talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group, which was co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States.
Department of Monitoring,
Kavkaz Center
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