TURKISH PM: BORDER BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA TO BE OPENED AFTER RESOLVING OF ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT (UPDATE)
Trend
April 14 2010
Azerbaijan
It will be possible to open borders between Turkey and Armenia only
after resolving of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Washington.
"Only resolving of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict can become the
basis for the opening of Turkish-Armenian border", CNN Turk quotes
Erdogan.
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.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.
Erdogan said that one should not forget the true reason for closing
of borders between Turkey and Armenia in 1993. It was the occupation
of Azerbaijani lands.
Turkish Prime-Minister answered the issue of Armenian journalist
concerning removal of Azerbaijan from the peace process in the South
Caucasus. He confirmed that Azerbaijan is an integral part of a truce
in the region. It can never be removed from it.
"There is an important point as the establishment of comprehensive
peace in the region in the Turkish-Armenian protocols. It says that
Azerbaijan is an important part of a regional cease-fire. It can not
be excluded from the peace process," Erdogan said.
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.