Turkey seeks thaw in Iranian-Azeri ties

In another attempt at regional mediation, Turkey is bringing together the foreign ministers of Iran and Azerbaijan on Saturday to try and thaw their icy relations. "If this meeting can contribute to bilateral ties and open the way for the two countries to make peace and engage in dialogue, we would be pleased," said one Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran will hold trilateral talks on Saturday in Urmia, a city in northwestern Iran and the capital of its West Azerbaijan Province. Turkish diplomats said developments in the Caucasus region would be discussed at the weekend meeting. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will reportedly seek to thaw the ice between Iran and Azerbaijan, a subject also mentioned in cables recently released by WikiLeaks. The Turkish initiative comes on the heels of similar efforts to bring together disputing parties and promote peace in the region. Davutoglu, the architect of Turkey's current foreign policy, most recently sought to soothe the Bahrain crisis following fears of a possible sectarian clash.