BAKU: Erdogan: Won’t reopen the borders with Armenia unless NK solve

APA, Azerbaijan
April 11 2009

Erdogan: We will not reopen the borders with Armenia unless Nagorno Karabakh conflict is solved

[ 11 Apr 2009 11:46 ]

Baku ` APA. `Turkey will not sign a deal to normalize the relations
with Armenia unless Baku and Yerevan reach an agreement on the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,’ Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said, APA reports quoting Reuters.

After visiting Antakyad municipality, Erdogan, who is on leave at
present, answered journalists’ questions about the reports on the
reopening of Turkey-Armenia borders. He said that Turkey and Armenia
could hold negotiations on the basic principles.
`But it depends on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We
will not sign a final deal with Armenia unless there is agreement
between Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nagorno Karabakh,’ he said.

Erdogan also took a stance on Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian’s
statement that the borders might be reopened by October.
Sarkisian had said Turkey-Armenia border, closed since 1993, might be
reopened by October. He had expressed his hope that he would go to
watch October 7 match between the national teams of Turkey and Armenia
in 2010 World Championship qualifying by crossing the border.

Erdogan said the president’s watching a football match had nothing to
do with the reopening of the borders.
`Does Turkish President’s watching the match with Armenia mean the
reopening of the borders? Is it possible?’ he said.