Nagorno-Karabakh War

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged Armenia not to attempt to violate the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh in an address to Turkish troops deployed in Azerbaijan to jointly monitor the implementation of a deal between Baku and Yerevan.

Turkey on Dec. 28 denounced a recent cease-fire violation and attack on Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians by Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

The top Turkish diplomat is set to pay a visit to Sochi next week and meet his Russian counterpart, according to diplomatic sources.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will meet with Sergey Lavrov on Dec. 29. The two officials are expected to address bilateral relations as well as regional issues.

Turkey on Dec. 18 rejected the resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh adopted by the lower house of Belgian Parliament. 

Responding to a question in writing, the Spokesperson of Turkish Foreign Ministry Hami Aksoy said the resolution 1597 related to Nagorno-Karabakh adopted by Belgium's House of Representative is neither historical nor compatible with facts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin explained Russia's position on the Nagorno-Karabakh cease-fire on Dec.17.

Speaking at an annual news conference in Moscow, Putin stressed that the region is an integral part of Azerbaijan according to international law.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday Turkey could normalize ties with France but Paris must change its stance over Turkey's military operations in Syria.

Turkey has repeatedly traded barbs with France over policies in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, and the publication of cartoons of Prophet Mohammad in France. Paris has led a push for EU sanctions on Turkey.

Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Dec. 16 that 136 members of the Special Mine Detection and Clearance Team (OMAT) began clearing mined areas of Upper Karabakh that were liberated from Armenian occupation.  

A Turkish-Russian joint center to monitor and inspect the ongoing ceasefire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be established in Agdam province of Azerbaijan, which was liberated by the former's army after a six-week-long war between the two rivals, the Turkish media reported.

Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh violated the cease-fire and killed four Azerbaijani soldiers last week, Azerbaijani officials said on Dec. 14. 

Some Armenian soldiers remained in the forest area of Hocavend province despite agreeing to withdraw, the Defense Ministry and the State Security Service said in a joint statement.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Dec. 10 his country could open its borders to Armenia, if Yerevan takes steps toward regional peace.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Baku, Erdoğan said they had no issues with the Armenian people.