Azernews.Az

Baku is a way for Turkey and the Turkish people to the Caucasus, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis said at the opening ceremony of the Europe-Azerbaijan Society office in Istanbul, Anadolu news agency reported on May 23.

"There are no problems that Turkey and Azerbaijan cannot resolve with mutual support," he said. "The countries must coordinate their forces to resolve any problems."

He added that Ankara senses Baku's support over talks on Turkey's joining the EU.

The minister said there are forces willing to create discord in the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, but despite this, the countries continue to enjoy successful cooperation based on fraternal relations.

Bagis said further that the world community must condemn the Khojaly genocide committed by Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijani civilians during the 1990s war and discuss the continued occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia. "But the world community remains silent about these crimes."

Speaking at the opening ceremony, chairman of the Europe-Azerbaijan Society Taleh Heydarov stressed that the organisation was established in Europe five years ago.

"We want to tell European politicians about the Nagorno-Karabakh issue," Heydarov said.

"Together with our Turkish friends we will tell them about Azerbaijan and Turkey in Europe. We will do everything to strengthen the friendship between our two countries."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven 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 peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.