TURKEY NOT TO CHANGE VIEW ON OCCUPIED AZERI TERRITORIES – FOREIGN MINISTER

Anadolu Agency
Oct 19 2009
Turkey

Ankara, 19 October: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said
Monday that Turkey would never change its position on Azerbaijani
territories occupied by Armenia.

Davutoglu said saving Azerbaijani territories from occupation was
one of the leading national matters for Turkey.

Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan in 1988. In 1992
and 1993, Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories in Upper Karabakh.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group -Russia, France, and the US -are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

"Azerbaijani soil is as precious as Turkish soil," Davutoglu told a
joint press conference after his meeting with Czech Foreign Minister
and Deputy Prime Minister Jan Kohout.

On October 10, Turkey and Armenia inked a protocol to establish
diplomatic relations and open the border.

Asked about his comments on hauling down of the Turkish flag in a
martyrdom in Azerbaijan, Davutoglu said Turkish and Azerbaijani flags
were both holy as flags of "a common nation."

"What we have been told was it was a temporary arrangement, a
measure for a restoration work," he said. "We have full confidence
in Azerbaijani people. We know their love to Turkey. We will never
allow attempts to cause discord between Turkey and Azerbaijan."