Trend, Azerbaijan
May 16 2009

Statement by Turkish prime minister is not end of Turkey-Armenia
dialogue: U.S. co-chair
16.05.09 12:52

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 16 /Trend News, R. Hafizoglu/

U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza says criticism
against Armenia by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in
Poland does not mean end of the Turkey-Armenia dialogue.

"The statement by Erdogan does not mean end of the Turkey-Armenia
talks," Cihan quoted American co-chair as saying.

On May 15, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized
Armenia saying that Armenia is experiencing hard times and if Turkey
wants it can send back 40,000 Armenians. Erdogan said border with
Armenia will not be opened until Nagorno-Karabakh is liberated.

Bryza said Turkey-Armenia ties are accompanied with the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding
districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.