Opening of the Armenian-Turkish border without the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict contradicts Azerbaijan’s national interests, official Baku believes.
“Azerbaijan’s position on this issue bases on numerous statements by the Turkish senior officials. Thus, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at the Azerbaijani Parliament on May 14, said: “Turkey closed its borders with Armenia after Armenia occupied the Azerbaijani lands. The borders can be opened after the end of the occupation. We will not change this position until our Azerbaijani brothers agree with it. Everything is interconnected and cannot be divided,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman, Elkhan Polukhov told Trend News.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry once again reports that the definition of relations with other states, in principle, is the sovereign right of every state. “However, regarding that this issue directly affects the national interests of Azerbaijan, opening of the Armenian-Turkish border without the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is contrary to the national interests of Azerbaijan,” Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said.
On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland reached an agreement to launch “internal political consultations” to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations, RIA Novosti reported with the reference to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
“Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two countries’ parliaments for approval,” the ministry said.
“”Both protocols create a base for normalizing bilateral relations,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993.
“Normalization of bilateral relations will further guarantee peace and stability in region. Turkey and Armenia are determined to make overall efforts under the support of Switzerland,” the Turkish Foreign Minister reported.
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.
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