Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
April 12 2009

To open the borders with Turkey, Armenia should abandon the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan – former President Suleyman Demirel
11.04.09 22:59

To open the border with Turkey, Armenia to abandon the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, former President of Turkey Suleyman Demirel
said on Saturday as writes the newspaper "Milliyet".

"To open the borders of Turkey to take retaliatory steps. To open the
borders, Armenia should abandon territorial claims to Azerbaijan,"
said Demirel.

Turkey and Armenia are trying to normalize relations, which were
interrupted in 1993. The reasons for the gap have been initiated
diplomatic Yerevan anti campaigns related to the claims of the
Armenian side on the recognition of the so-called "genocide", and the
occupation of Armenia, 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul accepted the proposal of the President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to visit Armenia at a football match between
Armenia and Turkey on 6 September last year in the group games round
the world championship. After this visit, diplomatic efforts to
normalize relations between the two countries continue.

According to Demirel, other countries were interested in the opening
of the Armenian-Turkish border ,without however specifying which
countries.

Referring to the discussion of the so-called "genocide" of Armenians
in the U.S. Congress, the opening of the borders of Armenia will not
be long-term solution to this non-issue in the U.S. Congress.

"I do not think that Turkey can win anything from the opening of
borders with Armenia," said former President Demirel.

Suleyman Demirel was the president of Turkey from 1993 to 2000.