Azerbaijani ruling party not believes in opening of Turkish-Armenian border during NATO military exercises

"Both the Azerbaijani and Turkish societies have expressed their views on this issue which is great importance for both peoples. Opening the border between Turkey and Armenia is impossible until Armenia liberates Azerbaijan's occupied territories," New Azerbaijan Party Deputy Chairman Ali Ahmadov told journalists today.

Earlier, it was reported that Turkey does not exclude possibility of a partial and temporary opening of the Turkish-Armenian border in Sept.11- 17 as part of NATO military exercises planned in Armenia. However, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu denied these reports.

Ahmadov said Armenia pursues a deliberate policy to harm the Azerbaijani-Turkish friendship.

"To this end, false news constantly leak about opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. I believe that the Azerbaijani society should show respect and confidence to the Turkish ruling circles' statements that border with Armenia will open only after Azerbaijan's occupied lands are liberated," Ahmadov noted.

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 seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the United States - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.


/Trend/