Turkish MP: Armenia's territorial claims against neighbors is not a smart move

"Turkey is a democratic state that respects religious feelings of people and opportunities to visit religious shrines,” member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Parliament) from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ruhi Achikgoz said.

The MP was commenting on Turkish media reports that Armenian company plans to open Yerevan-Van flight.

There is tolerance in Turkey that embraces people of all faiths, the MP says.

As for the desire of the Armenian side to launch a new air carrier and open a Yerevan-Van flight, the Turkish side has not yet received any formal request on this issue, the MP added.
 
"This is idea of individuals who may wish anything they want," he noted.
 
Achikgoz stressed that Turkey has announced the principles that govern the issue of normalizing relations with Armenia, and these principles are reflected in the signing of Turkish-Armenian protocols.
 
"Everything that happens outside of the stated principles has no practical significance. Turkey stated that normalization of relations with Armenia, and in particular the opening of Turkish-Armenian border depends on progress in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We adhere to this condition, and I do not think there are opportunities to somehow bypass this condition," the Turkish MP said.
 
The MP also emphasized that Armenia's territorial claims on neighboring countries will have no good results.
 
"At the state level Armenian leaders refrain to make claims to Turkey’s eastern province, but some political groups talk profusely about this issue. Turkey is able to give a rebuff to hostile attacks as strong as it is able to be friends. Armenian politicians should abandon unsubstantiated claims and embark on a pragmatic and beneficial path of friendship and good neighborly relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan," Achikgoz said.


/Day.Az/