Turkey opp leader hoping for Baku-Yerevan peace process

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish opposition leader said on Tuesday he hopes a peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia will begin soon as the sides signed a Russia-brokered deal to end fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The agreement will contribute to easing of tensions in the region, and help end the war. I hope a peace process will happen again," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), told his party's parliamentary group.

He said: "I think relations will improve after the end of occupation in Karabakh," the conflict would come to an end, and the neighbors will start a consistent dialogue.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has hailed the peace deal as a victory for his country, saying Baku's military success has enabled it to gain an upper hand to end the three decade-long occupation of its territory.

The Turkish leadership has also welcomed the truce, terming its a "great victory" for Azerbaijan.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics over Upper Karabakh have remained tense since 1991, with fresh clashes erupting on Sept. 27.

Armenia repeatedly attacked Azerbaijani civilians and forces for over 40 days, even violating three humanitarian cease-fire agreements.