Turkey always stands by Azerbaijan: Presidential spokesperson

Turkey will always continue to support Azerbaijan as it has in the past, Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın said late on Aug. 14. 

Kalın appeared on a television program on Azerbaijan state television via the internet to evaluate Turkey-Azerbaijan relations.

"Our alliance against all kinds of enemies, our common steps against all kinds of friends will continue," he said.

On the Upper Karabakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue, Kalın said if Azerbaijan suffered any attacks, Turkey would continue to support Azerbaijan in its power.

On international efforts to resolve the crisis in the region, he said the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, co-chaired by France, Russia, and the US, has not produced desired results and does not contribute to the liberation of Karabakh from Armenian occupation.

Asked why efforts are inadequate, Kalın said there are countries that want to take advantage of the crisis and occupation by sustaining the problem.

"Is there a problem of neutrality or a strategic perspective? Everyone knows that Nagorno-Karabakh is under Armenian occupation. The solution is obvious. Why not take this road, why not enough pressure on Armenia," he said.

He said Turkey supports peaceful solutions in the framework of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

The occupation of Armenia must end for the establishment of peace and stability in the Caucasus, he added.

Asked about the approach of Turkey to Armenia, Kalın said if the crisis between Azerbaijan and Armenia is resolved, normalization with Armenia may be pursued.

Until then, Turkey will not accept plans or agreements that Azerbaijan would not accept, he stressed.

He also said strong ties between...