Turkey rejects as baseless reports on opening border with Armenia
By Sara Rajabova
Armenia, which is in a state of isolation in the region because of its aggressive policy against its neighbors, is desperately looking for different ways to get out of this situation.
To this end, the country sporadically spreads information about the opening of the Turkish - Armenian border that was closed in early 1990s in a response to Armenia's so-called "genocide" claims against Ankara and occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
The Turkish officials have repeatedly stated that the border between Turkey and Armenia will not be opened until liberation of the Azerbaijani lands from Armenian occupation.
This time, following the creation of a new government in Turkey after presidential elections, the Armenian media once again disseminated information on the possibility of opening the Turkish-Armenian border.
Specially, in anticipation of the "100th anniversary" of the fictitious Armenian genocide, some media outlets claimed that Turkey will open borders with Armenia in 2015.
However, commenting on the issue, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ismail Alper Coskun denied the reports saying they do not correspond to the reality.
He said the reports on opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia are nothing more than a rumor.
"Turkish president's representative for foreign affairs has already clarified this issue," Coskun said. "I have been an ambassador to Baku for two years, I've always answered this question by saying that the opening of border is impossible."
Coskun added that cannot say who is spreading such information and why but he is always ready to tirelessly and calmly respond to this question.
"Because, Turkey's position on this issue is well-known, there is no need for discussions," the diplomat underscored.
Turkey cut diplomatic ties and closed its border with Armenia in 1993 after that country invaded Azerbaijan's territories.
Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing efforts by U.S., Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.
Turkey set Armenia's withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 surrounding regions of Azerbaijan as a precondition for establishing diplomatic relations with the country.
Azerbaijan-Turkey relations have always been strong due to a common culture and history and the mutual intelligibility of Turkish and Azerbaijani languages.
Turkey was the first country in the world to recognize Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 and has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity, and realize its economic potential that derives from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea.