Possibility to open Turkish-Armenian borders distresses and hurts Azerbaijan: Sheikh of Caucasus Muslims

"Turkey's closing borders with Armenia 16 years ago as protest against the groundless accusations of so-called "Armenian genocide" and Armenia's occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh presented to the Azerbaijanis so much feeling of pride that now the possibility of opening borders distresses and hurts Azerbaijan," mentioned in the letter addressed by Chairman of Caucasus Muslims Clerical Office to Minister on Religious Affairs of Turkey, Professor Ali Bardakogl.

Representatives of various circles of Turkish community suppose that the borders with Armenia 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

The people of Azerbaijan calls upon Turkey, which has protected Islamic Religion and its holy values along the history, not to take this step, the letter says. "We believe that Turkey, which has always supported validity and truth, repeatedly sustained aggression, will not allow opening borders with aggressive Armenia, which occupied 20 percent of the lands of fraternal Azerbaijan," the letter says.

/Trend News/