Anadolu Agency, Turkey
May 9 2009
TURKEY WILL OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA IF ARMENIA STOPS OCCUPATION OF
KARABAKH, SAYS ERDOGAN
ISTANBUL (A.A) – 09.05.2009 – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said Turkey would open its border with Armenia if Yerevan
stopped its occupation of Upper Karabakh. In an interview with
state-run TV broadcaster TRT, Erdogan said it was the precondition to
re-open the border gate.
Turkey cut all diplomatic ties with Yerevan and closed a border gate
with its northeastern neighbor in 1993 after Armenia occupied Upper
Karabakh region in Azerbaijan.
Erdogan also said that there were no problems in relation between
Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Upon a question on talks with the International Monetary Fund, or IMF,
on a possible loan deal, Erdogan said Turkey saw IMF officials
irresolute.
Erdogan said Turkey would ink a deal with the IMF if it would be in
the best interest of Turkish people.
"Turkey is a country that can stand on its own legs," Erdogan stated.
"Moreover, we are a partner country in IMF," he said, adding that his
government was disappointed as the fund should be the one to help
partner countries instead of raising difficulties for them in some
cases.
"There is no need to be sorry if it (IMF) is still irresolute," he
said.
Asked about the cause of irresolution, Erdogan said IMF asked Turkey
to lower expenses.
"We can not lower those figures. If we do it, then we will have
difficulties in investments. We want to continue making
investments. If we stop them, there will be problems in employment,"
he added. (TÇ-GC)