News - Turkish defense minister says there is 'historic opportunity' for peace in the region

"We believe that the way to regional peace and stability is through a comprehensive peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia," APA reports that Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said during the meeting of the defense ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia in Baku. "We believe that the path to regional peace and stability lies through a comprehensive peace agreement to be signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We also believe that the opening of regional transport communications will accelerate the process of normalization and peace. Although there is a historic opportunity for peace, tranquility and cooperation in the South Caucasus, we see that Armenia has failed to utilize this historic opportunity properly. On the other hand, on every platform and at every opportunity, Turkey expresses its strong support for the territorial integrity of Georgia. In this context, Turkey does not recognize the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and wishes that these disputes be resolved peacefully within the framework of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. At the same time, Turkey supports Georgia's efforts to integrate with Euro-Atlantic institutions," Yaşar Güler said.