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AZERBAIJAN SAYS BORDERS WITH ARMENIA TO OPEN AFTER OCCUPIED LANDS VACATED
Azad Azarbaycan TV
sept 21 2009
[Presenter] Baku has reacted strongly to Ankara's statement that the
improvement of relations between Turkey and Armenia may lead to the
opening of borders between Azerbaijan and the occupier country. Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elxan Poluxov has said that Azerbaijan can open
its borders with Armenia only at its own will and in exchange for
certain conditions.
[Correspondent] Baku states that the Armenian-Azerbaijani borders
can be opened only under Azerbaijan's decision and that this is the
country's internal affair. This can be discussed only after Armenian
troops vacate the occupied territories.
[Poluxov] The opening of the borders on the contact line can
undoubtedly happen under Azerbaijan's decision in the first place. This
decision and our position, as you know, is that this can only be taken
as the first step after Armenian military units withdraw from five
occupied districts [around Nagornyy Karabakh] and after the terms
are set for the withdrawal of military units from the remaining
two districts.
[Correspondent] Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said earlier
that the [possible] opening of the Turkish-Armenian border may lead
to the normalization of [Armenia's] relations with Azerbaijan and in
the long run to the opening of borders with Azerbaijan as well.
Elxan Poluxov also said that while Azerbaijan is putting forward
constructive proposals, Yerevan is only spreading aggression. As
to Armenia's refusal to accept Karabakh as a precondition, and the
absence of a provision in the protocol [on the normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations] on Karabakh despite the fact that Turkey
has not given up on Nagornyy Karabakh, the protocol is still under
discussion.
[Poluxov] It is not a final document, as of today, the signing of the
protocol has not been suggested. Political consultations are under
way on the protocol in both countries. But today, I will say it again,
we are based on the position taken by Turkey.
Azad Azarbaycan TV
sept 21 2009
[Presenter] Baku has reacted strongly to Ankara's statement that the
improvement of relations between Turkey and Armenia may lead to the
opening of borders between Azerbaijan and the occupier country. Foreign
Ministry spokesman Elxan Poluxov has said that Azerbaijan can open
its borders with Armenia only at its own will and in exchange for
certain conditions.
[Correspondent] Baku states that the Armenian-Azerbaijani borders
can be opened only under Azerbaijan's decision and that this is the
country's internal affair. This can be discussed only after Armenian
troops vacate the occupied territories.
[Poluxov] The opening of the borders on the contact line can
undoubtedly happen under Azerbaijan's decision in the first place. This
decision and our position, as you know, is that this can only be taken
as the first step after Armenian military units withdraw from five
occupied districts [around Nagornyy Karabakh] and after the terms
are set for the withdrawal of military units from the remaining
two districts.
[Correspondent] Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said earlier
that the [possible] opening of the Turkish-Armenian border may lead
to the normalization of [Armenia's] relations with Azerbaijan and in
the long run to the opening of borders with Azerbaijan as well.
Elxan Poluxov also said that while Azerbaijan is putting forward
constructive proposals, Yerevan is only spreading aggression. As
to Armenia's refusal to accept Karabakh as a precondition, and the
absence of a provision in the protocol [on the normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations] on Karabakh despite the fact that Turkey
has not given up on Nagornyy Karabakh, the protocol is still under
discussion.
[Poluxov] It is not a final document, as of today, the signing of the
protocol has not been suggested. Political consultations are under
way on the protocol in both countries. But today, I will say it again,
we are based on the position taken by Turkey.