Rasim Musabekov: "Turkey's support is important to us, but Azerbaijan is not strongly dependent on Turkey in the issue of protection of national interests"

- High ranking representatives of Turkey and Armenia have had secret talks on normalization of relations between the two countries...

- Frankly speaking, it is difficult to me to call the meeting even as talks. There are numerous problems in the bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey. I do not see anything incredible in it. The United States and Iran also support contacts on the level of diplomatic relations.

Why can't Turkey and Armenia maintain such contacts? Azerbaijan and Armenia are also in a state of war, still we hold negotiations with Armenians.

I think the said secret talks can not be effective, as Armenia does not intend to disavow its territorial claims to Turkey and "genocide of Armenians". Armenian diaspora organizations throughout the world will continue works for recognition of the "genocide of Armenians".

- Do you think the soonest opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia is possible?

- Even if Turkey opens borders with Armenia, it will not give anything, for nothing will pass Armenia until Azerbaijan opens its borders. Georgian road is closed due to the Abkhaz problem and Azerbaijani section of the border is closed by the well-known reasons.

The talks about the soonest opening of borders by Turkey and Armenia's getting a window to the world are unfounded.

And finally, Turkish public opinion will not allow the government to sign a cynical deal with Armenians, even if they attempt to settle problems with Armenia at Azerbaijan's cost.

I can not say that interests of Turkey and Azerbaijan fully coincide, for example in the gas issue. Azerbaijan is interested in the implementation of large scale gas projects, while Turkey wishes to purchase Azerbaijani gas by law prices and sell it on the European market.

Anyway, our interests fully coincide in the strategic issues. And I do not think that Ankara is ready to sacrifice strategic relations with Azerbaijan in favor of concessions to Armenia, which would bring no profit.

- As is known, the Armenian president invited his Turkish counterpart to Yerevan to watch a football match between the combined teams of Turkey and Armenia. Do you think the Turkish President will visit Yerevan, taking into account the announcement of Turkish Foreign Minister that this issue is being considered and all depends on the processes, preceding the match?

- The invitation is connected with definite actions of the Turkish side-opening of borders. In this sense, borders will not opened. Acceptance of the invitation will not be useful for the President and the ruling party of Turkey.

Even if Abdullah Gul visits Yerevan, it will not cause damage to Azerbaijan. We have firm demands and they will not change depending on whether the Turkish President will visit Yerevan or not.

Hypothetically, Abdullah Gul's visit is possible. To visit a country with which you have no diplomatic relation, would hardly be appropriate for the Turkish president. Presidents do not tour the world much in the practice, common in Turkey.

- Anyway, if borders between Turkey and Armenia open...

- I want to repeat-this will not be effective. We do not lose anything from it. The most important is the opening of the Azerbaijani border. I have read the versions, according to which Azerbaijan will surrender its positions within almost a day, following the opening of the Turkish border. This is a complete nonsense.

Turkey's support is indeed important to us, but Azerbaijan does not depend on Turkey so much in the issue of national interests protection.

/Day.Az/