[ 03 Apr 2009 17:23 ]
Baku. Lachin Sultanova –APA. “Principally, every country has a sovereign right to determine its relationship with any other country, but in this situation, the issue directly concerns Azerbaijan”, said press officer of Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Elkhan Polukhov, commenting reports on Turkey’s intention to open borders with Armenia, APA reports.

He said Turkish government closed the borders with Armenia in 1993. “The government of Turkey decided in 1993 to close borders with Armenia because of Armenia’s territorial claims against Turkey, occupation of Azerbaijani territories, ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijani people in the occupied territories. The Republic of Azerbaijan appreciated the Turkey’s decision as an act of support and a sign of solidarity with the Azerbaijani people. Azerbaijan always supported the Turkey’s fair demands against Armenia. Turkey’s decision to close borders with Armenia has a principal character because it was a clear message of intolerance to Armenia for its actions. This decision considers political and economic measures to force Armenia to review its policy against Azerbaijan and Turkey and to make well-considered steps in the region”. Polukhov said Armenia was always refusing the constructive proposals of its neighbors. “Armenia is always refusing constructive proposals toward settlement of the conflict and other problems as well, considers the hostile activity possible, and notwithstanding it demands the countries, which are targets of Armenia’s hostile activity, to open borders and to establish economic cooperation. Under the present conditions, reviewing of policy toward Armenia, including changing of decision on closing the borders within the context of non-progress in the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, would have negative impact on the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks over the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “Armenia will accept the opening of borders as an act of encouraging of its occupier policy against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan considers that the opening of Turkish-Armenian borders out of the context of settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is contrary to the national interests of Azerbaijan. This action will have negative impact on the situation in both strategic and tactic plans and will intensify tensions in the region”.

http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=99798

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