ESTABLISHING TURKEY-ARMENIA TIES UNACCEPTABLE UNTIL NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS RESOLVED: AZERBAIJANI GOVERNING PARTY

Today.Az
55265.html
Sept 3 2009
Azerbaijan

The governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) says establishing
Turkey-Armenian relations is unacceptable until the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is resolved.

"Azerbaijan and Turkey are strategic allies and our relations
rely on the principle of "one nation – two states". There are many
ties connecting our countries. Therefore, the talks held to reopen
Turkey-Armenia borders and to resume diplomatic ties stirs up anxiety
in the Azerbaijani public", the NAP senior official Mubariz Gurbanli
said in an interview with party’s official Web site.

On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland
reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations"
to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and
Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations.

Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and
following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two
countries’ parliaments for approval.

Currently, Turkey does not plan to open borders with neighboring
Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davudoglu said.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993.