AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: "PUBLICATION IN PRESS ABOUT SOONEST OPENING OF THE TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER IS AN ATTEMPT TO CAUSE SENSATION"
Today.Az
/politics/51081.html
March 16 2009
Azerbaijan
Publications in press about the soonest opening of the Turkish-Armenian
border is an attempt to cause sensation, said Azerbaijani ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Turkey Zakir Hashimov.
He spoke of the issue of inadmissibility of any contacts between
Turkey and Armenia.
Baku and Ankara hold consultations on this issue, he said. "The
Turkish side has officially announced that it will not take any
step, contradicting to Azerbaijan’s interests. Turkey will establish
relations with Armenia after Armenians disavow their claims towards
the so-called "Armenian genocide", withdraw from the occupied lands
of our country and officially recognize the territorial integrity
of Turkey and Azerbaijan. At the same time, we should realize that
Turkey is an independent state".
According to the ambassador, Turkey has its own policy towards its
neighbors and today the Turkish government is holding a policy to
normalize relations with its neighbors.
"Talks with Armenia should also be considered in the framework of
the resolution of ties with neighbors. Moreover, the upcoming visit
of Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to Armenia will be held
for participation in the session of the Organization for Black Sea
Economic Cooperation", said Hashimov.
"Personally, I do not expect any steps contradicting to Azerbaijan’s
interests from the upcoming meetings of the Turkish Foreign
Minister. Today some mass medias publish different speculations
on the Turkish-Armenian relations, opening of borders between the
two countries. Some mass medias even specify "the date" of opening
of borders between Turkey and Armenia, but these publications and
statements are mostly aimed to create sensation and nothing more",
concluded the ambassador