GANIRA PASHAYEVA: "NO AZERBAIJANI CAN AGREE TO TURKISH PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO ARMENIA"

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev-APA. "No Azerbaijani can agree to Turkish
President’s visit to Armenia. This visit hurts us morally. That’s why
I will await till the last minute that Abdullah Gul will refuse the
visit. Abdullah Gul himself said he was assessing the invitation. I
think while assessing the invitation Gul should take into consideration
opinion inside Turkey and position of Azerbaijani public," MP Ganira
Pashayev told APA.

The parliamentarian said those who compare Gul’s visit to Yerevan
with Azerbaijani officials’ meetings with Armenian representatives
are wrong.

"Firstly, Azerbaijani representatives do not visit Armenia to meet
with Armenians. Secondly, these meetings are held concretely in
connection with Nagorno Karabakh conflict and with mediation of OSCE
Minsk Group. If Abdullah Gul had met with Serzh Sarkisian in another
country or within the framework of an event, this would not have
caused such many discussions," she said.

To her, if Abdulla Gul visits Armenia, the statements he will make
there are very important: "If Abdualla Gul meets with Armenian
Mass Media and makes strict statements that Armenia has occupied
Azerbaijan’s territories and no relations will be established until
the liberation of occupied lands and Turkey does not establish
any relations with Armenia after the visit, it will ease us a
little. That’s why, the statements he will make there and steps to
be taken by Turkey after the visit are very important".