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TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDERS NOT TO BE OPENED UNTIL RESOLVING OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: TURKISH PM
Today.Az
http://www.today.az/news/politics/513 05.html
April 3 2009
Azerbaijan
"Turkey does not take a negative position towards any state but,
unfortunately, this position exists towards Turkey. The problem of
"Armenian genocide" still exists", said Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayip Erdoghan.
The Turkish Prime Minister noted that Turkey never raised the 1915
events to the level of "genocide", while the Armenian lobby, still
using the word "genocide" continues discussing this problem on the
international level.
"In 2005 I sent a letter to Armenian president Robert Kocharyan
in which I stated the need to create a general commission for
investigating "genocide" but unfortunately, we got no response to
the letter", said he.
According to Erdogan, Turkey will never recognize accusations of the
Armenian side.
"Unless this problem is not settled. Turkey will not agree on the
opening of borders with Armenia", said Prime Minister Erdogan.
Ankara discussed this issue with Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts,
but the United States, Russia and France should also accelerate the
resolution of the conflict, considers he. Turkey always supported
peace in the region, therefore, it proposed an initiative for settling
conflicts in the Caucasus, said the Prime Minister. According to
Erdogan, if Turkey have not proposed the Caucasus initiative, Georgia
and Russia would have the problem of Turkish-Armenian relations.
15:06
The Turkish-Armenian borders will not be opened until resolving of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the CNN Turk quoted Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying.
The U.S. President Barack Obama will discuss the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian borders and other issues related to Ankara and
Washington during Obama's visit to Turkey on April 6-7, the Hurriyet
newspaper reported.
Representatives of political parties, represented in parliaments of
the two countries, will discuss the issue shortly, the Speaker said.
Turkey and Ankara try to improve ties, which were severed in 1993. The
reason for split of diplomatic relations has become Erevan's anti
Turkish campaign related to Armenians claim to the so-called Armenian
genocide and occupation of 20 percent of territories of Azerbaijan.
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.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul received Armenian President Serzh
Sargisan's proposal to visit Armenia due to the football match between
Armenia and Turkey on Sept. 6. The sides continue taking diplomatic
efforts to improve the ties between the two countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Today.Az
http://www.today.az/news/politics/513 05.html
April 3 2009
Azerbaijan
"Turkey does not take a negative position towards any state but,
unfortunately, this position exists towards Turkey. The problem of
"Armenian genocide" still exists", said Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayip Erdoghan.
The Turkish Prime Minister noted that Turkey never raised the 1915
events to the level of "genocide", while the Armenian lobby, still
using the word "genocide" continues discussing this problem on the
international level.
"In 2005 I sent a letter to Armenian president Robert Kocharyan
in which I stated the need to create a general commission for
investigating "genocide" but unfortunately, we got no response to
the letter", said he.
According to Erdogan, Turkey will never recognize accusations of the
Armenian side.
"Unless this problem is not settled. Turkey will not agree on the
opening of borders with Armenia", said Prime Minister Erdogan.
Ankara discussed this issue with Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts,
but the United States, Russia and France should also accelerate the
resolution of the conflict, considers he. Turkey always supported
peace in the region, therefore, it proposed an initiative for settling
conflicts in the Caucasus, said the Prime Minister. According to
Erdogan, if Turkey have not proposed the Caucasus initiative, Georgia
and Russia would have the problem of Turkish-Armenian relations.
15:06
The Turkish-Armenian borders will not be opened until resolving of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the CNN Turk quoted Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying.
The U.S. President Barack Obama will discuss the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian borders and other issues related to Ankara and
Washington during Obama's visit to Turkey on April 6-7, the Hurriyet
newspaper reported.
Representatives of political parties, represented in parliaments of
the two countries, will discuss the issue shortly, the Speaker said.
Turkey and Ankara try to improve ties, which were severed in 1993. The
reason for split of diplomatic relations has become Erevan's anti
Turkish campaign related to Armenians claim to the so-called Armenian
genocide and occupation of 20 percent of territories of Azerbaijan.
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.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul received Armenian President Serzh
Sargisan's proposal to visit Armenia due to the football match between
Armenia and Turkey on Sept. 6. The sides continue taking diplomatic
efforts to improve the ties between the two countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress