ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT DEPENDS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT: POLITICAL EXPERT

Today.Az
/56864.html
Oct 23 2009
Azerbaijan

"I do not want to believe in cooling of relations between Azerbaijan
and Turkey," Doctor of Laws, Azerbaijani political expert Rustam
Mammadov said commenting on the situation after the signing of
Turkey-Armenia protocols in Zurich on Oct. 10.

"I understand the complexity of the situation for Turkey. The United
States and the EU put pressure on it. But this does not mean that
Ankara should give up. I think that Turkey should act in accordance
with its interests, which implies maintaining close relations with
Azerbaijan, which is the only true ally of Turkey in the world,"
Mammadov said.

"Turkey signed the protocols in Zurich only under pressure from third
countries. I even have the view that the United States and Russia have
agreed upon the processes that will occur in our region. Therefore,
if they force Turkey to open borders with Armenia, they will also
force Armenia to liberate the occupied Azerbaijani territories. If
Armenia refuses to do so, Yerevan will face fiasco in terms of the
global financial crisis," Mammadov said.

The expert said that ratification of the Turkey-Armenia protocols
in the Turkish parliament depends on intensification of negotiations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The process of Armenian-Turkish rapprochement is directly dependent
on progress in the Karabakh conflict, he said.