APA, Azerbaijan
April 11 2009

Deniz Baykal: No one in Turkey can ignore betrayal with respect to
Azerbaijan, no government can do it

[ 11 Apr 2009 15:56 ]

Ankara ` APA. Chairman of Republican People’s Party of Turkey Deniz
Baykal made a statement for media on the reopening of Turkey-Armenia
borders, Turkey’s Caucasus policy and Nagorno Karabakh conflict before
the party’s meeting in Ankara, APA reports.

In his one-hour speech Baykal criticized the Caucasus policy of
Turkish government and underlined that it might cause serious results
for the country. Deniz Baykal noted that Turkey closed the borders
with Armenia after the latter occupied Azerbaijani territories and
said it had nothing to do with the so-called genocide, Yerevan’s
refusing to recognize Turkey’s borders.
`The major part of our relations with Armenia is the occupation of
Azerbaijani territories. Such issues as genocide allegations,
non-recognition of our territorial integrity may be solved later,
these are not the vital issues for Turkey. Once Syria had claims for
Hatay. What happened later? Now we have warm enough relations with
Syria. Turkey is a great self-confident state. Our problems with
Armenia may be solved gradually, Turkey need not worry about it or
feel obligation to take any step. The main thing is the release of the
occupied Azerbaijani territories,’ he said.

Deniz Baykal said the occupation of Azerbaijani territories was not
only the claim of Turkey and Azerbaijan, the fact was confirmed in the
international documents. He mentioned that the UN Security Council had
adopted four resolutions concerning it and briefed the content of the
resolution to the journalists. Deniz Baykal said UN General Assembly
and PACE had also passed decisions on the occupation of Azerbaijani
territories. Baykal said Turkey closed the borders with Armenia in
1993, during Suleyman Demirel’s presidency and noted that all the
following governments were committed to that policy, only AKP
government had recently begun to give up that policy, the official
position of the state with respect to Armenian policy had been removed
from the official website of the Foreign Ministry. He underlined that
the foreign pressures on the government might cause serious results
for Turkey’s foreign policy and image of the state.
`A part of the attention paid to the Middle East and Arab countries,
should be paid to the Caucasus and Central Asia. Otherwise, pressures
on Turkey will increase and everybody will see that they can achieve
whatever they want by pressures. This is very dangerous. It will also
damage the confidence in Turkey. it should be prevented,’ he said.

Deniz Baykal said Armenians had occupied not only Nagorno Karabakh,
but also the surrounding regions and named the seven regions.
`As a result of the occupation, about one million people were
displaced,’ he said.
Turkey’s opposition leader underlined Azerbaijan’s importance in the
region.
`Azerbaijan is the most important and biggest country of the
Caucasus. Turkey’s Caucasus policy is impossible without
Azerbaijan. Turkey should pursue its Caucasus policy together with
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is very important in terms of energy strategy
of Turkey and even of the European Union and is an important part of
Nabucco project. In this respect, losing Azerbaijan may increase the
power of Russia and Iran in the region,’ he said.

Deniz Baykal said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that
the borders will not open unless Azerbaijani territories are released
is not enough.
`Those who had secret talks with Armenia in Switzerland should say
what
they had discussed. Obama came and said it openly, nobody said
anything. The
government should make serious statements. Prime Minister tries to
console us. It is unacceptable,’ he said.

Deniz Baykal said Armenia should demonstrate that it ends the
occupation, plan should be prepared in line with the UN resolutions,
Armenians should begin to leave Azerbaijani territories within this
plan.
`Only after that the borders can be reopened. But there is no such a
plan, instead the reopening of the borders is being discussed. For
what? They say a joint commission of historians will be set up. First,
the borders will be reopened, after that the commission will be set
up. This is a very dangerous way. As I have already said, the issue on
borders has nothing to do with the genocide. The only stipulation is
the release of Azerbaijani territories. Turkey had undergone pressure
before, but displayed patience. We can tolerate it, too. Azerbaijan’s
concern is right,’ he said.

Deniz Baykal said the Republican People’s Party attaches great
importance to Azerbaijan.

`No one in Turkey can ignore betrayal with respect to Azerbaijan, no
government can do it. Azerbaijani people need the support of Turkish
people. Our party will send a delegation to Azerbaijan in connection
with this,’ he said.