TURKEY NOT TO TAKE STEPS CONTRARY TO AZERBAIJANI INTERESTS: TURKISH MP
Trend
Sept 1 2009
Azerbaijan
The Turkish oppositional National Movement Party (MHP) considers that
negotiating with Armenia, Turkey will not take steps contrary to the
interests of Azerbaijan.
"Turkey will not take steps against the interests of Azerbaijan,
for the sake of diplomatic relations with Armenia", Turkish MP from
the MHP, Shenol Bal, told Trend News over the telephone.
During the negotiations under the mediation of Switzerland, Turkey
and Armenia reached an agreement to launch "internal political
consultations" regarding the signing of the "Protocol on establishment
of diplomatic relations "and" Protocol on the development of bilateral
relations," Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
The political consultations will complete within six weeks. Afterwards,
two protocols to be submitted for approval by the parliaments of two
countries will besigned," the same source added.
"Turkey’s objective is to achieve the best relations with its
neighbors and ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus," Turkish
Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davudoglu, said in an interview with NTV TV
channel. Ankara would consider the interests of Azerbaijan at each
stage of normalization of the relations with Armenia, Davudoglu added.
The Turkish prime minister, formally guaranteed Azerbaijan that the
border with Armenia will not be disclosed until the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflictis settled," Bal said.
"Turkey has always been side by side with Azerbaijan. Ankara will never
take action countering the brotherly nation’s interests," Bal added.
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.