Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, at a press conference today in Baku, said that Yerevan and Baku are closer to reaching a peace deal than ever before.

Fidan, according to the APA news outlet, said Ankara “welcomes the positive progress towards the conclusion of a permanent peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the determination of borders."

"After the 44-day war three years ago, a historic opportunity has been created to achieve peace in the region. We believe that today, more than ever, such an opportunity to reach a peace agreement has become much more real and should no longer be avoided,” Fidan said according to the APA news outlet.

Fidan accused the Armenian diaspora of inciting some countries of adopting an anti-Azerbaijan position, adding, “It would be better for them to focus their efforts on creating conditions in which the people of Armenia will be able to establish normal relations with their neighbors.”

Fidan urged the players outside the region to follow policies aimed at maintaining balance and regulating relations.

He said normalization of relations between Yerevan and Baku will also have a positive impact on the process of normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia.

Fidan said the Azerbaijan-Turkey alliance is an important factor in maintaining stability in the region.

Photo: Hakan Fidan (Turkish Foreign Ministry)