AZERI MINISTER ON POSSIBLE OPENING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER

ANS TV
April 2 2009
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani foreign minister has said that the Turkish-Armenian
border cannot be opened unless Armenian troops withdraw from
Azerbaijan’s territories.

In remarks broadcast by the Azerbaijani private TV channel ANS,
Elmar Mammadyarov, who is currently visiting Georgia, said: "If the
[Turkish-Armenian] border is opened before Armenian troops’ withdrawal
from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, that will run counter
to Azerbaijan’s national interests. We have brought this opinion to
the notice of the Turkish leadership. To tell the truth, the Turkish
leadership accepts that and says that the [Karabakh peace] talks
should continue and that Armenia’s troops should withdraw from the
occupied territories. Only on this condition can the border be opened."