AZERI ENVOY SAYS TURKEY-ARMENIA BORDER NOT TO OPEN BEFORE KARABAKH SOLUTION

Anadolu Ajansi
Sept 6 2009
Turkey

Ankara, 6 September: Azerbaijan’s Ambassador in Ankara, Zakir Hashimov,
said Saturday [5 September] the foreign ministries of Turkey and
Azerbaijan discussed Turkish-Armenian relations over phone and reached
a common understanding.

Speaking to reporters at a fast-breaking dinner in Ankara, Ambassador
Hashimov indicated that the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border
prior to resolving the Upper Karabakh issue would be against
Azerbaijan’s interests.

"As Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said, we believe that the border will not get opened unless the issue
of Upper Karabakh is resolved," Hashimov said.

Asked about what he thinks on two protocols signed by Turkey
and Armenia, Ambassador Hashimov stressed that "Turkey is a great
country. It is Turkey’s own business to decide with which countries
it establishes relations".