Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Turkish Parliament Suat KINIKLIOGLU attended the Caucasus Seminar which was organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation on May 22-23, 2009.

The seminar was attended by politicians and experts from Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Issues discussed were the Russian-Georgian conflict, the Karabakh conflict and the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.

KINIKLIOGLU underlined that in line with Turkey’s neighborhood policy the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform (CSCP) was initiated aiming to create a stable Caucasus while pointing out that the normalization process with Armenia was being intensified.

On normalization with Armenia KINIKLIOGLU said that the process needed to continue in line with the interests of both sides. Furthermore KINIKLIOGLU said that Turkey had excellent relations with Azerbaijan and that the relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan would both develop. He added:

“The process for a solution in Karabakh and the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations are two parallel processes mutually reinforcing each other. They complete, strengthen and influence each other. Consequently the three countries are having important internal debates. It will not be easy to complete this process successfully. Turkey is determined to strengthen its political dialogue, economic and cultural relations with the Balkans, the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.”