WE WILL SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN’S INTERESTS AS TURKEY’S: TURKISH PM
Trend News Agency
Oct 20 2009
Azerbaijan
"We will maintain Azerbaijan’s interests as Turkey’s," Turkish Prime
Minister Receb Tayyib Erdigan said at a meeting of the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP), the CNN Turk reported.
Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers, Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocol in Zurich on Oct. 10.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia’s
claims of an alleged genocide, and the country’s occupation of 20
percent of Azerbaijani lands.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Turkey will support Azerbaijan’s interests as its own, Erdogan added.
Erdogan also said that he is loyal to his statements made at the
Azerbaijani parliament.
Turkey will never take steps contradicting Azerbaijan’s interests,
Erdogan said.
Some forces want to damage the Turkey-Azerbaijan relations and they
are within Turkey, Erdogan said.
"I want to tell the Azerbaijani people that your joy is Turkey’s joy
and your grief is Turkey’s grief," Erdogan added.
Erdogan asked not to believe those who want to damage the
Turkey-Azerbaijan relations.
Erdogan also mentioned that he had a very sincere meeting with the
Azerbaijani MPs.