TURKEY REASSURES ITS ALLY AZERBAIJAN
Associated Press Worldstream
May 12, 2009 Tuesday 3:55 PM GMT
Turkey’s prime minister says his country will continue to defend
the interests of its ally Azerbaijan, despite Ankara’s rapprochement
with Armenia.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters before leaving for Baku on Tuesday
that he hopes his trip would dispel misconceptions that Turkey was
turning its back on Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is disturbed by Turkey’s and Armenia’s recent efforts
toward reconciliation, which could lead to the reopening of their
joint border.
Turkey closed the border in a show of support to Azerbaijan, which
is in conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.