PREMIER SAYS TURKEY TO OPEN ARMENIAN BORDERS AFTER KARABAKH SOLUTION
ANS TV
May 13 2009
Azerbaijan
[Presenter] After one-to-one and expanded meetings, the Azerbaijani
president and the Turkish prime minister have given a joint news
conference. In response to an ANS correspondent’s question, the
Turkish prime minister said that the Turkish-Armenian borders will
not open as long as the Nagornyy Karabakh problem is not resolved.
[Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking in news
conference] I believe that you would not ask me such questions if you
had listened to my statements either made in London or in talks in the
Turkish parliamentary groups. I repeatedly stated this in my group
talks in the parliament. I stated just the same in TV programmes. I
stated just the same at a conference I held after the G20 summit in
London. The point which I insist on is the following. Our borders
were closed after the occupation of Nagornyy Karabakh. We will not
open borders as long as the occupation continues. Who says this? The
prime minister of the Turkish Republic says this. Can there be any
guarantee here apart from this?
[Presenter] Assessing the Turkish prime minister’s statement,
the Azerbaijani president said that that this was the best answer
to a simple question which Azerbaijan addressed to the Turkish
authorities. The head of state reiterated that there was already no
ground for speculation in this issue.
[President Ilham Aliyev speaking at the news conference] Remarks by
esteemed prime minister [Erdogan] and my valuable brother are the
best answer to this question. I am grateful for this question and
answer. Because, there cannot be an answer clearer than this. I
want to point out that probably it is no secret for anybody that
there have recently been feelings of some concern in Azerbaijani
society. Probably, those feelings had some natural reasons. However,
I think that the most important thing [changes tack] I want to tell
the Azerbaijani people that there no grounds were left for any doubt,
any other thought or speculation. The Turkish prime minister and
president have repeatedly clarified this issue. I want to say once
again that remarks by my valuable brother Mr Prime Minister [Erdogan]
is the best answer to this.