Tweet
TURKEY CAMPAIGN TO COUNTER ARMENIA BORDER OPENING
AssA-Irada
November 17, 2009 Tuesday
Azerbaijan
A signature collection campaign was launched in Turkey on Thursday
to prevent the planned opening of the border with Armenia prior to
a solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh. According to Turkeys Erzurumgazetesi website, the campaign
was organized in the town of Igdir by the ASIM DER union, which aims
to counter Armenian claims about the alleged 1915 genocide in the
Ottoman Empire.
The collected signatures will be sent to the foreign ministry. Turkey
and Armenia have faced differences for decades. Turkey closed
its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of
Azerbaijani territory and genocide claims. In a bid to normalize
ties, Turkey signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations
and reopen its border with Armenia in Zurich on October 10. The
move has triggered a cool-down in its relations with Azerbaijan,
Turkeys ally. However, Turkish officials have pledged that Ankara
could normalize its relations with Yerevan only after the Garabagh
conflict has been fairly settled. Goksel Gulbey, ASIM DER chairman,
accused Armenians of insincerity. He noted that Armenia is seeking to
reopen the border and normalize its ties with Turkey but has availed
of every opportunity to assert that it will never pull of the occupied
Azerbaijani territories, adding that Turkey is obliged to support
Azerbaijan. If Armenians are sincere, they should withdraw from the
occupied Azerbaijani territories. Otherwise, the border will not open,
and ASIM DERs actions will continue. First, we will start a sit-in
protest and then take on a hunger strike, Gulbey told reporters.
AssA-Irada
November 17, 2009 Tuesday
Azerbaijan
A signature collection campaign was launched in Turkey on Thursday
to prevent the planned opening of the border with Armenia prior to
a solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh. According to Turkeys Erzurumgazetesi website, the campaign
was organized in the town of Igdir by the ASIM DER union, which aims
to counter Armenian claims about the alleged 1915 genocide in the
Ottoman Empire.
The collected signatures will be sent to the foreign ministry. Turkey
and Armenia have faced differences for decades. Turkey closed
its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of
Azerbaijani territory and genocide claims. In a bid to normalize
ties, Turkey signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations
and reopen its border with Armenia in Zurich on October 10. The
move has triggered a cool-down in its relations with Azerbaijan,
Turkeys ally. However, Turkish officials have pledged that Ankara
could normalize its relations with Yerevan only after the Garabagh
conflict has been fairly settled. Goksel Gulbey, ASIM DER chairman,
accused Armenians of insincerity. He noted that Armenia is seeking to
reopen the border and normalize its ties with Turkey but has availed
of every opportunity to assert that it will never pull of the occupied
Azerbaijani territories, adding that Turkey is obliged to support
Azerbaijan. If Armenians are sincere, they should withdraw from the
occupied Azerbaijani territories. Otherwise, the border will not open,
and ASIM DERs actions will continue. First, we will start a sit-in
protest and then take on a hunger strike, Gulbey told reporters.