Turkish-Armenian borders not to be opened until resolving of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Turkish PM - UPDATED

18:10

"Turkey does not take a negative position towards any state but, unfortunately, this position exists towards Turkey. The problem of "Armenian genocide" still exists", said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdoghan.

The Turkish Prime Minister noted that Turkey never raised the 1915 events to the level of "genocide", while the Armenian lobby, still using the word "genocide" continues discussing this problem on the international level.

"In 2005 I sent a letter to Armenian president Robert Kocharyan in which I stated the need to create a general commission for investigating "genocide" but unfortunately, we got no response to the letter", said he.

According to Erdogan, Turkey will never recognize accusations of the Armenian side.

"Unless this problem is not settled. Turkey will not agree on the opening of borders with Armenia", said Prime Minister Erdogan.

Ankara discussed this issue with Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts, but the United States, Russia and France should also accelerate the resolution of the conflict, considers he. Turkey always supported peace in the region, therefore, it proposed an initiative for settling conflicts in the Caucasus, said the Prime Minister. According to Erdogan, if Turkey have not proposed the Caucasus initiative, Georgia and Russia would have the problem of Turkish-Armenian relations.

--------------
15:06

The Turkish-Armenian borders will not be opened until resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the CNN Turk quoted Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying.

The U.S. President Barack Obama will discuss the opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders and other issues related to Ankara and Washington during Obama's visit to Turkey on April 6-7, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.

Representatives of political parties, represented in parliaments of the two countries, will discuss the issue shortly, the Speaker said.

Turkey and Ankara try to improve ties, which were severed in 1993. The reason for split of diplomatic relations has become Erevan's anti Turkish campaign related to Armenians claim to the so-called Armenian genocide and occupation of 20 percent of territories of Azerbaijan.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul received Armenian President Serzh Sargisan's proposal to visit Armenia due to the football match between Armenia and Turkey on Sept. 6. The sides continue taking diplomatic efforts to improve the ties between the two countries.

/Trend News/