November 24, 2008 - 12:23 AMT
Turkey acts as Baku's ally and OSCE MG member simultaneously
Turkey has always supported Azerbaijan in the conflict with Karabakh, an NKR expert said.

"We could witness the Azeri-Turkish strategic partnership during the past 20 years. It includes military and technical aid, training of officers, consultations provided by numerous war experts and the ongoing blockade of Armenia," Masis Mayilyan, former NKR Deputy Foreign Minister, said during "Turkey-Armenia Dialogue Series: Breaking the Vicious Cycle" seminar in Yerevan.

"On the other hand, Turkey has been a member of the OSCE Minsk Group since 1992. Thus, this country acts as Baku's ally and an international mediator simultaneously," he said.

At that, Turkey can have a positive part in resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, according to him.

"Turkey is the only country which can persuade Azerbaijan to relinquish a small part of its territory in order to maintain its sovereignty. Pursuing its present-day policy, Azerbaijan, a country with rich energy potential and a hostage to ungrounded ambitions, will lose its positions in the region and even control over its energy resources," Mr. Mayilyan said.