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Baku: Armenia deal "casts shadow" on Turkey ties
11 Oct 2009 10:48:38 GMT
Source: Reuters
BAKU, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan said on Sunday a peace deal
between Armenia and Turkey could threaten security in the region and
"cast a shadow" over its relations with Ankara.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said a peace deal should not have been
signed while Armenian troops remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, scene of a
decades-old dispute between Armenia and traditional Turkish ally
Azerbaijan.
Turkey cut ties and shut its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of
Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan, which was then fighting a losing battle
against Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh.
But Turkey and Armenia signed a landmark peace accord on Saturday to
restore ties and open the shared border after a century of hostility
stemming from the World War One mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman
forces. [ID:nLA711124]
"The normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia before the
withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied Azeri territory is in
direct contradiction to the national interests of Azerbaijan," the
Azeri Foreign Ministry said.
In a strongly worded statement, the ministry added the deal "casts a
shadow over the fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey,
which are built on historical roots.
"Considering the importance of the opening of all borders and
communication in the region, Azerbaijan believes the unilateral opening
of the Turkey-Armenia border calls into question the architecture of
regional peace and security."
In an indication of the many pitfalls that lie ahead of the deal's
implementation, Saturday's ceremony was marred by a three-hour delay
due to last-minute disagreements on statements. (Reporting by Afet
Mehtiyeva, writing by Robin Paxton in Moscow; editing by Michael Roddy)
11 Oct 2009 10:48:38 GMT
Source: Reuters
BAKU, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan said on Sunday a peace deal
between Armenia and Turkey could threaten security in the region and
"cast a shadow" over its relations with Ankara.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said a peace deal should not have been
signed while Armenian troops remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, scene of a
decades-old dispute between Armenia and traditional Turkish ally
Azerbaijan.
Turkey cut ties and shut its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of
Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan, which was then fighting a losing battle
against Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh.
But Turkey and Armenia signed a landmark peace accord on Saturday to
restore ties and open the shared border after a century of hostility
stemming from the World War One mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman
forces. [ID:nLA711124]
"The normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia before the
withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied Azeri territory is in
direct contradiction to the national interests of Azerbaijan," the
Azeri Foreign Ministry said.
In a strongly worded statement, the ministry added the deal "casts a
shadow over the fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey,
which are built on historical roots.
"Considering the importance of the opening of all borders and
communication in the region, Azerbaijan believes the unilateral opening
of the Turkey-Armenia border calls into question the architecture of
regional peace and security."
In an indication of the many pitfalls that lie ahead of the deal's
implementation, Saturday's ceremony was marred by a three-hour delay
due to last-minute disagreements on statements. (Reporting by Afet
Mehtiyeva, writing by Robin Paxton in Moscow; editing by Michael Roddy)