Cooperation between Turkey, Armenia encourages continuation of Armenian occupation: Azerbaijani deputy FM

“Azerbaijan has already announced position on the signing of Turkish-Armenian protocols in the statements issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan on August 30 and October 10, 2009 and President Ilham Aliyev’s interview to Azerbaijan Television in Chisinau on October 9, 2009”, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov said.

The deputy minister said Azerbaijan understood the importance of Turkey’s efforts to solve its historical problems and to normalize relations with Armenia.

“Establishing of relations is a sovereign right of each country. Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in a response to the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia. The decision was made in this context and it couldn’t be disaffirmed out of relevant context. We are sure that while the situation remains unchanged and the lands are under the occupation, the opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders will negatively impact not only Azerbaijan and solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, but whole South Caucasus as well," Azimov said.

"It will deal a strong blow to international efforts to force Armenia to fulfill norms and principles of international law, to respect territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of Azerbaijan, to withdraw troops from Nagorno Karabakh and other occupied territories and to create necessary conditions for internally displaced persons to return home. We have witnessed in the past two months that the opening of borders stimulated Armenia’s non-constructive position in the peace talks. Even one statement by Turkey, Armenia and Switzerland on the prospects of Turkish-Armenian talks enabled Armenia to toughen its position in the negotiations with Azerbaijan”.

“We can surely say that opening of borders and starting of Turkish-Armenian economic cooperation will help Armenia to continue occupation. It will prevent Azerbaijani people, including the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh to return to their homeland”, Azimov said.

The deputy minister said the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations will not produce positive results for the region if Armenia does not withdraw its forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

“The reopening of Turkey-Armenia border can play an important role as an element of the settlement, in case the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the Azerbaijani territories and reopening of Lachin corridor for the use of all sides happen within the same time frame. After all this, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan may have more favorable opportunities for economic cooperation. Such an approach, as a part of the settlement of the conflict, will be in line with the concept on reopening of all borders and communications in the region. Otherwise, peace and security will hardly be established in the region,” he said.

Azimov said Azerbaijan will not review any economic cooperation with Armenia unless Armenian troops free Azerbaijan’s occupied territories, including Nagorno Karabakh.

“If Armenia is ready to recognize Turkey’s territorial integrity, we also have a right to demand similar attitude towards other states of the region, including Azerbaijan,” he said.

/APA/