Today.Az » Politics » We put every pressure on government not to open border with Armenia: Turkish MP
11 April 2009 [11:27] - Today.Az
The Republican People's Party strongly opposes opening of the Turkey-Armenia border.
"The Republican People's Party puts every pressure on the government not to open border with Armenia. We will not allow borders to be opened until Armenia withdraws troops from Azerbaijani lands and surrenders occupier policy. We strongly oppose it," member of parliament from Republican People's Party Onur Oyman told Trend News over telephone from Ankara.
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.
Oyman said the step which will be taken under U.S. and European pressure must be resisted.
"Opening of borders will not benefit Turkey," Oyman added.
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/
|
|
