Caucasus Platform may promote frozen conflicts resolution, Turkish expert saysSeptember 30, 2008 - 17:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's Caucasus platform serves the interests of all countries in the region, according to deputy chairman of the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM)."Such an alliance could serve the interests of all the countries' involved. Turkey proposed to set up a platform for cooperation and stability in the Caucasus to help the resolution of conflicts through dialogue after the Russia-Georgia conflict," Murat Bilhan said. "Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the countries planned to take part in this formation had voiced optimism, however experts are divided over the prospect of such a platform. I think Turkey's proposal as a positive step. It is highly achievable. Azerbaijan and Armenia have already welcomed the proposal. Iran declared its immediate desire to join. I believe that Russia will also be positive in its outlook," he said, adding that such an alliance could also contribute to the resolution of frozen conflicts in the region, like Nagorno Karabakh. "Turkey may host the headquarters of this alliance, as it did in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) that was established upon Turkey's proposal by in Istanbul in 1994," Bilhan concluded, Hurriyet daily reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |