ArmInfo. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a bleeding wound for both Azerbaijan and Turkey, the country's new Ambassador to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral said in an exclusive interview with Trend.
Efforts have been made within the framework of OSCE Minsk Group for many years to solve this issue, the diplomat said.
"Unfortunately, the negotiation process supported by Turkey hasn't given any positive results so far," he noted.
The ambassador expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations will become more constructive and concrete steps will be taken to address the issue.
Turkey wants the Caucasus to be a region of peace and prosperity, the diplomat said.
"Turkey has long been suffering from issues and conflicts in neighboring countries," said Erkan Ozoral. "In this context, we want the Caucasus to become an example for all humanity as "an island of peace"."
He noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be "fairly resolved within the framework of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan."
"Turkey has always supported and will support any path Azerbaijan will choose within the framework of these principles," the ambassador said. "We are ready to provide every support to achieve peace. The great injustice Azerbaijan is facing increases as the settlement of the problem is getting protracted."
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out on February 28 1988 in the Azerbaijani Sumgait with massacre of Armenians as a peculiar response of Azerbaijanis to the peaceful demand of the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous Region, part of the Azerbaijani SSR, to unite with the Armenian SSR. This resulted in other pogroms of Armenians in Baku, Kirovabad and other regions of Azerbaijan populated with Armenians. In 1991 Azerbaijan unleashed war against peaceful populations of Nagorno-Karabakh, expulsing ethnic Armenians from the territory of Azerbaijan. Dozens of thousands of peaceful residents on both parties were killed in the military actions, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless and have become refugees. In 1994 in Bishkek in mediation of the OSCE MG, the NKR, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Protocol on Ceasefire that is observed more or less so far. Since 1992 the OSCE Minsk Group represented by co- chairs from Russia, U.S. and France has been mediating in resolution of the conflict unleashed by Azerbaijan in 1988. The recent flared up of the conflict (April 2-5) when Azerbaijan unleashed an aggression against Nagorno Karabakh was stopped with mediation of the foreign powers. Diplomatic efforts have been launched towards observation of the ceasefire and possible re-launching of the peace talks.