ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER CAN BE REOPENED ONLY AFTER CONFLICT IS SETTLED – AZERI OFFICIAL
Interfax
Sept 1 2009
Russia
Possible steps to reopen the Armenian- Turkish border before the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is settled run counter to Azerbaijan’s
interests, Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov told
Interfax on Tuesday.
Commenting on an agreement reached between Armenia and Turkey to start
consultations aimed at establishing diplomatic relations, Polukhov
said that the authorities in Baku are committed to the principle of
non- interference in other countries’ affairs.
"At the same time, bearing in mind that this issue is directly linked
to our interests, the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border prior
to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict runs counter to
Azerbaijan’s national interests," the spokesman said.
Azerbaijan’s position regarding the normalization of relations between
Armenia and Turkey is governed by statements made by high-ranking
Turkish officials, Polukhov said.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Azerbaijan’s
parliament in May that the border between Turkey and Armenia was shut
down immediately after Armenia’s occupation of the Azeri territories,
and it would be reopened only after this occupation was over, the
Azeri diplomat said.
"The Turkish prime minister declared that the authorities in Ankara
would remain strongly committed to this position and would not take
any steps in this issue without Azerbaijan’s approval," he added.