APA, Azerbaijan
Oct 16 2009

Azerbaijan says Turkish-Armenian border opening to hurt Karabakh talks

The Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister has said that the opening of
the Turkish-Armenian border will have a negative impact on the
Nagornyy Karabakh settlement.

"If Turkey opens the border in the situation when the Armenian side
continues occupying Azerbaijani territory, that will deal a serious
blow to the world community’s efforts to force Armenia to obey
international legal norms and principles, respect Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, withdraw from all
occupied territories, including Nagornyy Karabakh and create
conditions for displaced persons’ return to their homes," APA news
agency quoted Araz Azimov as saying on 16 October.

He added: "We can say for sure that the opening of the border and the
start of economic cooperation between Turkey and Armenia will help
Armenia continue occupation. As a result, that will hamper the return
of Azerbaijanis, including the Azerbaijani community of Nagornyy
Karabakh, to their homeland."

He went on to say that the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border
might, however, play an important role in the Karabakh settlement
process. "The opening of the Turkish-Armenian border may play an
important role as an element of the [Karabakh] conflict settlement
only if it is timed to coincide with Armenian troops’ withdrawal from
Azerbaijani territory and the opening of the Lacin road for use by all
parties. If that takes place, there could be more advantageous
possibilities for economic cooperation between Turkey, Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Such an approach, as a component of the conflict
settlement, would fit into the concept of opening all borders and
communications in the region. Otherwise, peace and security will
hardly be established in the region," Azimov said.