Turkey-Armenia agreement to promote stabilisation in Caucasus.

12/10 Tass 261

MOSCOW, October 12 (Itar-Tass) -- The signing of the protocols on the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia is "a
historic step" that will promote stabilization in the Caucasus, holds
Leonid Slutsky, first deputy chairman of the State Duma International
Relations Committee.

"Russia : favours any constructive developments between Ankara and
Yerevan," said the MP. He does not rule out that progress with the
Armenian-Turkish agreement "may be made conditional upon the settlement of
the question of Nagorno-Karabakh."
Armenia and Turkey signed the protocols on the development of
bilateral relations in Switzerland on October 10. Ankara and Yerevan must
establish diplomatic relations, open the common border in two months and
begin regular political consultations.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said earlier the question of
Nagorno-Karabakh should be settled. He said Turkey expected that Armenia
should take measures in the framework of international law and bring peace
to that region. Unless Armenia frees the occupied Azerbaijani lands,
Turkey will be unable to show a positive approach, he said. He added that
parliament that would ratify the protocols would certainly analyse the
effect of its decision on the Armenian-Azerbaijani affairs.
It is precisely after the conflict broke out in Nagorno-Karabakh in
1993 that the border was closed and diplomatic relations between Ankara
and Yerevan broken.
-0-saf/usn