Babacan mets with Algeran FM Medelci

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with his Algerian counterpart Mourad Medelci, who is on an official visit to Turkey. Afterwards, Babacan told a joint press conference that Turkey's more active diplomatic efforts for peace in the Caucasus will continue, including an upcoming visit to Azerbaijan, adding, "Russia has to make contributions to help normalize Azerbaijani-Armenian relations." Citing a meeting early this month in Russia to help solve problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia, he added that Turkey supports such initiatives. Speaking about recent Turkish-Armenian relations and Turkey's proposal for a Caucasus stability and cooperation platform, he stated that his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian will be in Istanbul in two weeks when Armenia ceremonially takes over the presidency of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). For his part, Medelci said that Turkey's relations with Algeria are based on principles of sharing, friendship and brotherhood.