State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
April 10, 2009 Friday
AT THE MOMENT, TURKEY`S OPENING BORDERS WITH ARMENIA WILL BE A WRONG
STEP
Washington 10 April
Chairman of Board of Azerbaijan-Turkish Businessmen Union (ATIB),
Ahmad Erentok told journalists: Under current conditions, Turkey`s
opening borders with Armenia will be a wrong step.
Commenting on media reports about opening of the Turkish-Armenian
borders circulating in Turkey and other countries, Erentok said the
past sixteen years since Turkey closed its borders with Armenia marked
no changes in fulfillment of conditions Ankara set before Yerevan.
Armenia did not free the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and did not
leave the genocide, territorial and compensation claims against
Turkey. If these conditions are not fulfilled, the opening of borders
can not be acceptable he said.
Erentok said ATIB issued a statement to protest the issue.
Chairman of ATIB Board also discussed the issue with former US
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and told her the opening of the
borders will complicate the situation in the region.