AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTRY ISSUED STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS
AZG DAILY
13-10-2009
Armenia-Turkey
According to Azerbaijani media, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued
a statement on Sunday after the signing of Armenian-Turkish protocols
in Zurich.
Expressing its concern over the signing of protocols, the statement
cites from the Tayyip Erdogan’s speech made on May 14, 2009 in
Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic: "Turkey closed its border with
Armenia after its "occupation" of Azerbaijani lands. The borders
can be opened only after the "occupation" is put an end. As long as
the requirements of our Azerbaijani brothers will not be satisfied,
we will not retreat one step from this position. It is interconnected
and can not be considered separately"
The Foreign Ministry also refers to the statement by the Turkish
prime minister on September 17 made to the Turkish media: "We can
not open the borders until the long-drawn conflict between Azerbaijan
and Armenia is resolved… We can not take this step without solving
this problem."
"As we have repeatedly noted, establishing relations of one state with
another is a sovereign right of each state. However, normalization
of relations between Turkey and Armenia before the withdrawal of
Armenian forces from "occupied Azerbaijani" territory is in direct
contradiction with the interests of Azerbaijan and overshadows the
spirit of brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey built on
deep historical roots. Taking into account the importance of opening
all borders and communications in the region, Azerbaijan believes
that the opening of Turkish-Armenian border unilaterally call into
question the architecture of peace and stability in the region ",
the statement said..