Azerbaijani women’s NGOs appeal to Turkish counterparts

"Turkey must not help Armenia to get from isolation upon the request of international forces," Azerbaijani women NGOs said at a press conference in Ataturk center.

Different circles in Turkey claim Turkey-Armenia borders will be opened.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia's claims of an alleged genocide, and the country's occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football match.

Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two countries ever since.

"Turkey-Azerbaijan relations rest on national leader Heydar Aliyev's "one nation, two state" principle. This principle must not be violated."

Women NGOs ask their counterparts to prevent opening of borders taking into consideration of occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands and 1 million refugees.

The appeal will be introduced to the Turkish embassy in 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.

/Trend News/