The Turkish Foreign Minister has stated that durable reconciliation in the Caucasus can be possible only after the liberation of the Armenian-occupied lands of Azerbaijan. “The Ankara-Yerevan protocols have been signed for durable reconciliation in the region. It is possible only after liberation of the Azerbaijani lands from occupation. By signing the protocols the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been brought to the focus of international community,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told journalists in Baku,Trend News reported.

Davutoglu said that Turkey will continue supporting Azerbaijan in the way it has done so far. “The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not a problem of Azerbaijan, but also of Turkey. Turkey holds a decisive position in this issue. Before signing the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich we held discussion on Nagorno-Karabakh dispute with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,” Davutoglu added.

Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers, Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocol in Zurich on Oct. 10. Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and the country’s occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.