Karabakh Authorities Condemn Abdullah Gul’s Statement

STEPANAKERT — Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday condemned as inflammatory Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s latest calls for a quick restoration of Azerbaijan’s control over the liberated territory.

Speaking at a summit of Turkic-speaking states held in the Azerbaijani town of Gabala late last week, Gul said Ankara will spare no effort to help Baku win back Karabakh. He also expressed hope that a similar Turkic summit will be held in Karabakh in the near future.

“Such statements must be serious food for thought for not only the Armenian states but also the international community,” said Davit Babayan, the spokesman for Karabakh President Bako Sahakian.

“Since Turkey is a member of a number of international organizations, notably NATO, such statements by its president effectively provoke Azerbaijan or endorse its aggressive behavior and it is incumbent on the international community to react to them,” Babayan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).

Turkey has long lent full and unconditional support to Azerbaijan in the Karabakh conflict. Successive Turkish governments have refused to establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan and open the Turkish-Armenian border before a Karabakh settlement acceptable to Baku. Speaking in the Azerbaijani capital last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Ankara will “do everything in its power to end the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.”