TURKEY’S PM SAYS OPENING ARMENIA BORDER DEPENDS ON KARABAKH SOLUTION

April 15 2010
Turkey

Erdogan said a border crossing between Turkey and Armenia would
remain closed unless a settlement was reached in the conflict over
the Karabakh region.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said a border
crossing between Turkey and Armenia would remain closed unless a
settlement was reached in the conflict over the Karabakh region.

"Occupation of Azerbaijan’s territory is the reason why our border
(with Armenia) was closed down in 1993. Now we want that to be fixed
and we are ready to take the step as soon as that happens," Erdogan
told reporters upon his arrival in Turkey from the United States
where he participated in a nuclear security summit meeting.

Erdogan said Turkey stood behind commitments it had made in protocols
with Armenia signed in October 2009 in Switzerland.

"We respect the principle of ‘pacta sund servanda’ and we are loyal
to what we have signed in Zurich. But no one has the right to impose
one’s own memories on Turkey as Turkey has never tried do to such a
thing," Erdogan said.

"Human tragedies"

Replying to a question about Iran’s nuclear program, Erdogan said,
"a different version of the Nuclear Security Summit in the USA on
April 12-13 will be held in Iran on April 16-17. Officials from Turkey
will be in attendance at the meeting. On numerous occasions, we have
stressed that a democratic and diplomatic solution is the only way
since anti-democratic attempts have always led to human tragedies. On
the other hand, Turkey is the only country among member states of the
United Nations Security Council having border with Iran. There have
been friendly relations between Turkey and Iran since the Treaty of
Zohab in 1639. Our border is about 380 km. Our trade volume exceeded
10 billion USD. Iran is our second biggest supplier of natural gas
behind Russia. We cannot leave aside all those relations. Our friends
should also asses it."

"No demand"

When asked whether Kurmanbek Bakiev, ousted leader of Kyrgyzstan,
sought asylum from Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "such a demand
has not been made. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held a series of
telephone conversations with the U.S. officials about the developments
Kyrgyzstan. We are ready to contribute all efforts to find a solution."

Prime Minister Erdogan also expressed his profound sorrow over loss
of lives in the quake in China.