AZERI SPEAKER WARNS AGAINST PROVOKING QUARREL WITH TURKEY
ANS TV
Oct 20 2009
Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijani parliamentary speaker has condemned the attitude
recently shown to the Azerbaijani national flag in Turkey and warned
against fuelling the matter.
In his remarks at parliament carried by Azerbaijani ANS TV, Speaker
Oqtay Asadov said: "I want to express my opinion. People who want to
split Azerbaijani-Turkish union do not differ from Armenians. They are
even bigger provocateurs than Armenians are. Let’s put this issue
aside. The issue of the flag has also hurt my honour. The stadium does
not accommodate 15,000 Azerbaijani flags… It would be a different
issue if those flags had been collected and put aside. But when flags
are put in a box with the S letter [as heard, probably meant "C"
standing for cop in Turkish, rubbish in English] sign on it, that
hurts our honour. But these issues have been provoked from all sides.
There are much more Armenians in Turkey than Azerbaijanis. And there
are forces involved in provocation. I ask all of you and also media
representatives who are present here. Such issue should never be
fuelled, including in parliament. I have already said, all governments
come and go but nations are eternal, those causing quarrel between
these nations [Azeris and Turks] are real enemies."