ARMENIA WILL FAIL TO SOLVE VITAL ISSUE THROUGH FOOTBALL: MP
Today.Az
Aug 25 2009
Azerbaijan
"First of all, the football match is a sports event and Turkey has one
of the strongest football teams worldwide. So, it will certainly gain
an upper hand over Armenian team," Azerbaijani member of parliament
Aydin Mirzazade said commenting on situation around the return match
between Turkish and Armenian football teams to take place in Turkey
on October 14.
"Time will show whether there will be football policy. At the moment
we can assume several scenarios. This may be a purely sports event. It
may involve a small delegation from Armenia and everything can be
limited to this," he said.
"Another option is that Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan will arrive
at the match as a reciprocal step and as an opportunity to use this
time to probe the issue of opening Turkey-Armenia border," he added.
"As to Serzh Sargsyan’s statement that he will not visit Turkey until
Ankara does not take real steps to open Armenia-Turkey border, it was
not the final answer. There are ample of such statements by Sargsyan
and other Armenia officials. At the same time, they quickly changed
their position," Mirzazade said.
"Perhaps Sargsyan will change his decision or send another senior
official on his behalf. It all depends on to what degree Nagorno
Karabakh conflict will be solved by that time. That is, if there are
encouraging results about the Karabakh issue and Sargsyan, backed by
resolution of the Karabakh issue, will go himself and will be willing
to quickly resolve the issue of opening borders," he said.
"Armenia needs opening of the border with Turkey very much. Opening
border with Azerbaijan is also important for Armenia. But the
Armenia is well aware that until there is no progress in the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, they will not witness opening of borders with
these countries. Therefore, Armenia’s position in this issue may be
repeatedly changed and be unexpected," he said.
"Just watch a football match is a personal matter of the Armenian
leadership, but Armenia will fail to solve a vital question through
football."
"Turkish officials have repeatedly stated that opening borders between
Turkey and Armenia will be resolved only after the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As long as Armenia does not agree to
withdraw its troops from occupied Azerbaijani territories, Turkey
will not open its border with Armenia," Azerbaijani MP said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
