I am sorry about Turkey’s offending Azerbaijani brothers by establishing ties with Armenia: Retired Turkish lieutenant general

"I think none of the steps to improve ties are right. I am very sorry about Turkey's offending Azerbaijani brothers by establishing ties with Armenia. Ankara-Yerevan talks harm Azerbaijan-Turkey relations," retired Turkish lieutenant general Ermegan Kuloglu 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.

"Armenia has not implemented any of Turkey's three conditions. It is unacceptable for Turkey to establish ties Yerevan despite non-fulfillment of conditions," Kuloglu said.

Kuloglu said everybody in Turkey must realize that Ankara's striving for a dialogue with Yerevan will not yield results until Armenia liberates Azerbaijan's occupied lands and surrenders territorial claims to Turkey.

He said Turkey must seek to establish ties with the Turkic world. Ankara should take steps in this regard.

"Some states including Russia and West are dissatisfied with the development of ties with Turkic world," Kuloglu said.

Kuloglu said both Turkey and Azerbaijan must be sensitive of this issue and act together.

"I think it would better for Azerbaijan and Turkey to discuss this issue and for Ankara to reconsider relations with Armenia," he added.

/Trend News/