TURKEY’S STATE MINISTER: "TURKEY WILL NOT OPEN THE BORDERS WITH ARMENIA UNLESS NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IS SOLVED" – EXCLUSIVE

APA
June 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Istanbul. Vugar Mustafayev – APA. Turkey does not intend to open
borders with Armenia unless Nagorno Karabakh conflict is solved,
Turkey’s State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan told APA’s
employee sent to Istanbul.

Caglayan said in Nagorno Karabakh problem there is a fact of the
occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

"Turkey will not open the borders with Armenia or establish any
economic relations unless the problem is solved," he said.

"During his recent visit to Azerbaijan at the meeting with President
Ilham Aliyev Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan once more
expressed the position of official Ankara on the issue. President
Abdullah Gul also stated several times that the Nagorno Karabakh
problem should be solved first," Turkish Minister underlined.

The State Minister said social and economic development of the states
of the region was important for establishing peace in the Caucasus.

Zafer Caglayan also took a stance on Armenian leadership’s policy
concerning the so-called Armenian genocide and propaganda carried
out in the world.

"We have stated several times that this issue should be investigated by
the historians basing on archival documents. I call on the world states
not to be unfair towards Turkey while passing any decision," he said.