LIBERATION OF AZERBAIJANI LANDS, RESTORATION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY MUST GO HAND IN HAND: EXPERT

Today.Az
/55172.html
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan

"Establishment of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Armenia is
normal," Azerbaijani parliament’s security and defense committee chair
Aydin Mirzazade said commenting on Turkish Foreign Ministry’s statement
that Turkey and Armenia will start talks to resume diplomatic ties.

"The numerous statements by Turkish official who said that
Turkey-Armenia border will not reopen until Armenia withdraws its
troops from the occupied Azerbaijani lands are still in force,"
Mirzazade said.

"It is normal that countries will be establish diplomatic relations,
but as Turkey has announced strategic relationship with Azerbaijan,
I think these two things should be linked with each other," he added.

"Given the fact that are intense negotiations between Armenia
and Azerbaijani presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, I think on this background there are
parallel negotiations on restoration of diplomatic relations between
Armenia and Turkey," he said.

"But such a process is also possible that Armenia will be tasked to
withdraw its troops from occupied Azerbaijani lands and at the same
time Turkey will resume relations with Armenia. I see these processes
in an interconnected form. I do not believe that Turkey will change its
opinion for a short period of time. I also do not believe Turkey will
change its friendly relations with Azerbaijan for the sake of opening
the border with weak and at the same time aggressive Armenia," he said.