Armenia Must Recognize Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s National Borders to Normalize Relations

Journal of Turkish Weekly
May 3 2005

Jan SOYKOK – (JTW) Diplomatic sources argue that Armenia must recognize
neighboring Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national borders to normalize
its relations with Turkey and other regional states. According to
the Turkish sources Armenian forces should withdraw from Azerbaijan.

Dr. Nilgun Gulcan said the US and the EU should make pressure on
Yerevan to end the Armenian occupation:

“The US makes pressures on Syria and Syrian troops have withdrawn
from Lebanon. The US imposed embargo and military operations against
Serbia. The occupier Iraq was punished. However Armenian forces
occupied Azerbaijan and the occupation has lasted for more than a
decade. The US and the EU did almost nothing. International community
did not ask the Armenians to end occupation. The US and EU politicians
question Turkey – Armenia relations but never question the Armenian
occupation. The US impose embargo against Iran, Cuba and other states,
but when Turkey-Armenia border is closed due to the Armenian aggressive
policies, the US criticizes Turkey. Both the Americans and the EU
have to see the Armenian responsibility in relations.”

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan offered a joint commission
to discuss the historical disputes, but the Armenian side rejected
the offer.

The irredentist groups in Armenia call Turkey’s eastern provinces
‘Western Armenia’ and the Armenian Constitution does not recognize
Turkey’s national borders.
From: Baghdasarian