AZERBAIJAN’S RULING PARTY: ARMENIA IS MORE INTERESTED IN APPROVING OF PROTOCOLS SIGNED WITH TURKEY

Trend
Jan 21 2010
Azerbaijan

The processes prove that Armenia is more interested in approving the
protocols signed in the Swiss city of Zurich and the opening of borders
with Turkey, New Azerbaijan Party deputy executive secretary said.

"Armenian Constitutional Court’s positive evaluation of the protocols
signed with Turkey testifies it," New Azerbaijan Party deputy executive
secretary, MP Mubariz Gurbanli said on the website of the party.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were broken due
to Armenian claims of an alleged genocide and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. Their border closed in 1993.

According to Gurbanli, earlier Armenia said that it will submit
these protocols for discussion after their approval in the Turkish
Parliament. "But the course of events shows that occupier has receded
from their claims. All this shows that the most interested party in
the opening of the borders is Armenia. There are views that there
are forces opposing the protocols in this country among the Armenian
lobby. It is a clear example of the Armenian guile and hypocritical
policy on this issue ", deputy executive secretary said.

He said a few days ago the Turkish Parliament said that the border
will not open unless there is progress on Nagorno-Karabakh issue. "The
opening of borders would give a breath to Armenia, which is in a
difficult economic situation. But Turkey’s position in this matter
is clear," New Azerbaijan Party deputy executive secretary said.

Recalling the recent telephone conversations between foreign ministers
of Turkey and Armenia, Gurbanli thinks that the Armenian side has
implored Turkey. "Turkey retains its conditions concerning the border
opening. In general, there are serious processes in the region. These
processes also prove strengthening of Azerbaijan’s position ", he said.

New Azerbaijan Party was founded in 1992 by Azerbaijani National
Leader Heydar Aliyev. That time he was a chairman of Nakhchivan Supreme
Majlis. Now Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev heads the organization.

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.