ANKARA WILL NOT COMPROMISE AND OPEN BORDERS WITH ARMENIA: TURKEY’S INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DIRECTOR
Trend
March 30 2009
Azerbaijan
Turkey’s International Strategic Research Organization says though
Armenian issue will be discussed during U.S. President’s visit to
Turkey, Ankara will not compromise and open borders with Armenia.
"U.S. and Turkey will discuss Armenian issue. But it is politically
incorrect to think that Ankara will compromise Yerevan and open borders
under Obama’s pressure," Turkey-based International Strategic Research
Organization director Sedat Lachiner told Trend News in a telephone
conversation from Ankara.
Turkey’s SABAH newspaper quoted the anonymous EU official as saying
that he hopes the Turkey-Armenia border will be opened following
U.S. President Barrack Obama’s visit to Turkey in April.
Obama will trip to Turkey on April 5-7.
Lachiner said Turkey was put on more pressure regarding Iraqi issue
during former U.S. President George Bush’s office. However, Turkey
did not allow U.S. troops to use its territory.
"Turkey will never act in detriment of Azerbaijan’s
interests. Azerbaijan is aware of all talks between Turkey and
Armenia," Lachiner said.
He said media is exaggerating reports on opening of the Turkey-Armenia
border.
"The reason for the closed Turkey-Armenia border is Yerevan’s
disrespect for borders and territorial integrity of neighbor states,"
he added.
Lachiner said Turkey will not sacrifice its borders to the so-called
genocide claims. Ankara has resolute views on this issue.
"The border can be opened after Armenia withdraws from occupied
Azerbaijani lands. Turkey will not harm its interests under the
pressure of any state," he said.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 because of Armenia’s
false "genocide" claims and occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani
lands. Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on September 6,
2008 at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to
watch Armenia-Turkey football match within the European Cup. Efforts
have been made since then to normalize ties between the two countries.