TURKPA SHOULD PROTECT TURKIC INTERESTS: OFFICIAL
Trend
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkish-speaking countries (TurkPA)
must develop efficient mechanisms to work within international
organizations to address issues affecting the interests of Turkic
peoples, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Vice Speaker Bahar Muradova said at
a summit of the European Azerbaijani Congress and Azerbaijani-Turkish
Diaspora Organization Coordination Council, the Azerbaijani State
Committee for the Diaspora said today.
The European Azerbaijani Congress and Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora
Organization Coordination Council held a joint meeting in Frankfurt
Nov. 21-22.
Azerbaijani Parliamentary Vice Speaker Bahar Muradova and Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Social and Political Department head
Ali Hasanov participated at the meeting, as well as State Committee
for Diaspora Activities Chairman Nazim Ibrahimov, Azerbaijani
MPs Sabir Rustamkhanli and Fazil Mustafayev, several Turkish MPs,
scientists and intellectuals from the European Azerbaijani Congress
and Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organization Coordination Council.
According to Muradova, TurkPA member countries must bring the structure
to an international level, forming a parliamentary assembly composing
all such organizations across the world.
Muradova said the assembly must organize activities to form a unified
position on matters that affect the interests of Turkic-language
countries.
However, Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s solidarity is at the moment of
the utmost importance, she said. According to the official, foreign
countries are attempting to influence their relations.
Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were broken due
to Armenian claims of an alleged genocide and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. Their border closed in 1993.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Representatives of the Turkish government have repeatedly stated the
impossibility of opening the Turkish-Armenian border until Azerbaijani
lands are de-occupied.