"Armenia is not interested in opening the border with Turkey although they say the opposite"

What are your comments on the fact that Azerbaijan and Turkey recently founded Supreme Council on Strategic Partnership?
 
Naturally, establishment of the Supreme Council on Strategic Partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan was an important event. Such an agreement was signed not only between our two countries. Previously, Turkey had signed an agreement on establishment of such councils with Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and other countries. With the creation of this Council, our relations will be considered in a broader context. As Turkey and Azerbaijan are strategic allies, our countries do not have problems. The new Council will further promote development of our relations.

In a run up to the NATO week in Armenia, Armenian media claimed Armenia-Turkey border will open for the drills. In your opinion, who stood behind this provocation? What goal did they pursue?

Turkish media also had similar news. As you know, Turkey has openly announced that Ankara-Yerevan protocols won't be ratified and the border with Armenia will not open until Armenia deoccupies Azerbaijan’s lands. But Armenia, as well as Western countries seek to get Turkey to open the border and make it to soften its position in this matter. They wanted to use NATO exercises as an opportunity to do this. On the other hand, by spreading such news, they wanted to know the reaction of the Turkish public. It was assumed that if the public did not show strong reaction, the issue of ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols and the opening of the border would come to mainstream once again.

In an interview with Ukrainian "Profil" magazine, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said he waits for "political force or leaders” to appear in Turkey who would be ready to “show political will” on the issue of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. Sargsyan didn't mention the fact that Turkish leadership has set Armenia’s liberation of at least part of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan as one of the main conditions of this process…

While the position of the Turkish public and Azerbaijan is clear and obvious in this matter, no political party of Turkey and no leader would dare to open the Armenian-Turkish border. Besides, we have elections ahead of us which makes this subject even more sensitive. Sargsyan, who, to use his own words, is waiting for more "courageous" leader in Turkey, should instead be more courageous and not be afraid of the Armenian diaspora and deoccupy Azerbaijan’s lands which will bring peace to the region ...

In your view, when the Armenia – Turkey border may open then?

I do not think that Armenia sincerely wants to open the border. Armenia plays a big game. Armenia may want opening the border if only the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan deteriorate. 
 
Armenian nationalists have a century-old strategy. According to it, 100 years will pass since relocation of 1915 which the Armenian nationalists term as "genocide". Armenian nationalists have set goal to get compensation from Turkey on occasion of centenary of this event. Four years have left till 2015. If Armenia gets opening of borders with Turkey and make peace, the Armenian nationalists wont achieve this.

They disseminate information that Armenia and Turkey are experiencing problems, try to do so that parliaments of Western countries will recognize the so-called "genocide" and plan to sue Turkey in 2015 in order to obtain compensation. For this reason, Armenia is not interested in opening the border with Turkey although they say the opposite.


/Day.Az/