Ankara says liberation of occupied Azerbaijani lands strategic goal
Liberation of the Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia is a strategic goal for the Turkish government.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made the remark during a speech in the Parliament on September 1.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Davutoglu further said after the liberation of occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, Turkey will also take steps to normalize
relations between Ankara and Yerevan.
He also urged Armenia not be taken hostage to historical events, as
well as not to reject offers made by Ankara to normalize bilateral
relations.
The break in relations and closing of the Turkish-Armenian border in 1993 were due to Armenia's claims for recognition of the "Armenian genocide" in the world, as well as Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani lands.