Azeri media end protests against opening of Turkey’s border with Armenia

Azadliq, Baku
10 Apr 04

Azerbaijani journalists continued their campaign of protests against
the possible opening of the Turkish-Armenian border in Ankara
yesterday. Our correspondent Sahla Abusattar, who took part in the
campaign, reported that first the journalists visited the grave of
[founder of the Azerbaija ni Democratic Republic in 1918-20] Mahammad
Amin Rasulzada. Then they held a news conference for Turkish
colleagues at the journalists’ centre.

At a meeting with the ninth Turkish [former] president, Suleyman
Demirel, the journalists said that the Azerbaijani people are
concerned about the possible opening of the border. Demirel said in
turn that although such reports appear from time to time, Turkey will
never change its policy on Azerbaijan and the border will not be
opened until our country’s problem with Armenia is settled.

[Passage omitted: Demirel calls for dialogue between the Azerbaijani
opposition and authorities]

The journalists have finished their protest and left Ankara. They are
back in Azerbaijan today. [Passage omitted: the paper will publish
detailed reports on the journalists’ trip to Turkey]