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Asia Pulse
October 29, 2010 Friday 11:11 AM EST
TURKEY CITES KARABAKH ISSUE IN REFUSING TRADE TIES WITH ARMENIA
NAKHICHEVAN, Azerbaijan Oct 29
Turkey will not open its border and develop commercial relations with
Armenia unless a solution to Karabakh problem is found, Turkey's
foreign trade minister said on Tuesday.
Zafer Caglayan, who is in Nakhichevan, which borders Armenia, said
that Nakhichevan was important for both Azerbaijan and Turkey.
"That's why we have to develop Nakhichevan," Caglayan said. "We will
do it by the help of trade. We will sign deals. The size of our trade
with Azerbaijan is around US$2 billion but this is not enough. We have
to make it $5 billion."
On opening Turkey's border with Armenia, Caglayan said, "our
commercial relations cannot develop and the border cannot open unless
the Karabakh problem is resolved. Our president and prime minister
have made it clear. And now, I am repeating it here. We will neither
do business with Armenia nor open the border unless Armenians withdraw
from the territory they occupied."
Turkey shut down its border and cut off diplomatic ties with Armenia
in 1993 after Armenian army forces occupied Azerbaijan's Karabakh
region. Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in October 2009 to
normalize relations, reopen their border and restore diplomatic ties.
However, protocols have yet to be ratified by both parties.
(TUR)
From: A. Papazian
October 29, 2010 Friday 11:11 AM EST
TURKEY CITES KARABAKH ISSUE IN REFUSING TRADE TIES WITH ARMENIA
NAKHICHEVAN, Azerbaijan Oct 29
Turkey will not open its border and develop commercial relations with
Armenia unless a solution to Karabakh problem is found, Turkey's
foreign trade minister said on Tuesday.
Zafer Caglayan, who is in Nakhichevan, which borders Armenia, said
that Nakhichevan was important for both Azerbaijan and Turkey.
"That's why we have to develop Nakhichevan," Caglayan said. "We will
do it by the help of trade. We will sign deals. The size of our trade
with Azerbaijan is around US$2 billion but this is not enough. We have
to make it $5 billion."
On opening Turkey's border with Armenia, Caglayan said, "our
commercial relations cannot develop and the border cannot open unless
the Karabakh problem is resolved. Our president and prime minister
have made it clear. And now, I am repeating it here. We will neither
do business with Armenia nor open the border unless Armenians withdraw
from the territory they occupied."
Turkey shut down its border and cut off diplomatic ties with Armenia
in 1993 after Armenian army forces occupied Azerbaijan's Karabakh
region. Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in October 2009 to
normalize relations, reopen their border and restore diplomatic ties.
However, protocols have yet to be ratified by both parties.
(TUR)
From: A. Papazian