Aliyev refused to visit Turkey
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev refused to visit
Istanbul, Turkey to attend a UN forum entitled "Alliance of
civilizations" held on April 6-7, reports say. The move could be
interpreted as Baku`s protest at Turkey`s plans to open its border
with Armenia, Azerbaijan`s long-time foe.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 following its occupation of Azerbaijan and its claims regarding the alleged World War I-era genocide. Yerevan has also leveled territorial claims against Turkey. However, there have been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties in recent years, and the two countries` officials have held several rounds of talks at various levels. The media has maintained that the Turkish-Armenian border would be re-opened in mid-April.
Hulusi Kilic, Turkish Ambassador in Baku, has essentially admitted that President Aliyev has cancelled his visit to Turkey.
"I can`t say anything regarding the Azerbaijani president`s decision. All I can say is that a program was being prepared for his scheduled visit," Kilic was quoted by a local news agency as saying.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has made a phone call to his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev trying to convince him to attend the UN summit, influential Hurriyet newspaper reported. Gul had tried throughout the weekend to persuade him to take part in the event but his efforts produced no fruit.
After the Turkish president`s insistence did not yield results, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton intervened. She phoned Aliyev, saying US President Barack Obama would gladly meet with him during a visit to Istanbul. However, even the pledge to hold a one-on-one meeting with President Obama did not secure the Azerbaijani leader`s consent to attend the event, the Turkish media said.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is due to arrive in Yerevan on April 16 to attend a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) and that a memorandum of understanding on opening the Turkish-Armenian border would be signed during the visit.
According to Hurriyet, the country`s intention to re-open its border with Armenia had triggered an outcry in Azerbaijan and that the latter would discontinue transporting gas to Turkey if the measure is approved.
At the same time, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian has told the local press that Yerevan-Ankara talks on the border opening "would soon reach their logical conclusion."
Another statement concerning Turkey`s planned opening of the border and launching cross-border trade with Armenia, with which it has been facing decades of tensions, was made by Ali Guner, a member of the Turkish ruling AK party from Igdir. During a meeting with voters on the eve of local elections, Guner noted that a free trade area will be created in the city, trade operations conducted with businessmen of other countries, including Armenia, and customs duties lifted from such transactions on his country`s border with Armenia and Iran.
Further, European sources have also said Turkey is preparing to open its border with Armenia. Euronews has recently reported quoting senior EU officials as saying that Ankara would announce the opening soon. The officials said Turkey may take the step after President Obama`s visit to the country, which ended on Tuesday. Euronews maintained that the measure would positively affect EU-Turkey relations and would be welcomed in Europe.
These factors indicate that Turkey apparently plans to go ahead with the border opening, while disregarding Azerbaijan`s stance and prior to a settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with Armenia. This step could be, therefore, considered one of the potential reasons for President Aliyev`s refusal to attend the UN summit in Turkey, analysts say.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said that if the border opens prior to the pullout of Armenian armed forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories, this would run contrary to his country`s national interests.
Mammadyarov told reporters in Georgia while commenting on persistent reports that Azerbaijan`s position on the issue had already been conveyed to the Turkish leaders.
"The Turkish leadership accepts our views and states that talks [on settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict] should be continued and the Armenian troops are to withdraw from the occupied lands. Only in those conditions can the border open up," Mammadyarov said.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the conflict.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara`s forging relations with Yerevan was impossible as long as the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict remains unresolved, CNN Turk TV channel reported.
At a news conference held during a visit to London, where Erdogan traveled to attend a G20 summit, he said Turkey would like "to live in a world of peace" and the movement to improve ties with Armenia served that goal. "I am confident that normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations will positively affect resolution of the Garabagh problem."
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 following its occupation of Azerbaijan and its claims regarding the alleged World War I-era genocide. Yerevan has also leveled territorial claims against Turkey. However, there have been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties in recent years, and the two countries` officials have held several rounds of talks at various levels. The media has maintained that the Turkish-Armenian border would be re-opened in mid-April.
Hulusi Kilic, Turkish Ambassador in Baku, has essentially admitted that President Aliyev has cancelled his visit to Turkey.
"I can`t say anything regarding the Azerbaijani president`s decision. All I can say is that a program was being prepared for his scheduled visit," Kilic was quoted by a local news agency as saying.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has made a phone call to his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev trying to convince him to attend the UN summit, influential Hurriyet newspaper reported. Gul had tried throughout the weekend to persuade him to take part in the event but his efforts produced no fruit.
After the Turkish president`s insistence did not yield results, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton intervened. She phoned Aliyev, saying US President Barack Obama would gladly meet with him during a visit to Istanbul. However, even the pledge to hold a one-on-one meeting with President Obama did not secure the Azerbaijani leader`s consent to attend the event, the Turkish media said.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is due to arrive in Yerevan on April 16 to attend a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) and that a memorandum of understanding on opening the Turkish-Armenian border would be signed during the visit.
According to Hurriyet, the country`s intention to re-open its border with Armenia had triggered an outcry in Azerbaijan and that the latter would discontinue transporting gas to Turkey if the measure is approved.
At the same time, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian has told the local press that Yerevan-Ankara talks on the border opening "would soon reach their logical conclusion."
Another statement concerning Turkey`s planned opening of the border and launching cross-border trade with Armenia, with which it has been facing decades of tensions, was made by Ali Guner, a member of the Turkish ruling AK party from Igdir. During a meeting with voters on the eve of local elections, Guner noted that a free trade area will be created in the city, trade operations conducted with businessmen of other countries, including Armenia, and customs duties lifted from such transactions on his country`s border with Armenia and Iran.
Further, European sources have also said Turkey is preparing to open its border with Armenia. Euronews has recently reported quoting senior EU officials as saying that Ankara would announce the opening soon. The officials said Turkey may take the step after President Obama`s visit to the country, which ended on Tuesday. Euronews maintained that the measure would positively affect EU-Turkey relations and would be welcomed in Europe.
These factors indicate that Turkey apparently plans to go ahead with the border opening, while disregarding Azerbaijan`s stance and prior to a settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with Armenia. This step could be, therefore, considered one of the potential reasons for President Aliyev`s refusal to attend the UN summit in Turkey, analysts say.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said that if the border opens prior to the pullout of Armenian armed forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories, this would run contrary to his country`s national interests.
Mammadyarov told reporters in Georgia while commenting on persistent reports that Azerbaijan`s position on the issue had already been conveyed to the Turkish leaders.
"The Turkish leadership accepts our views and states that talks [on settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict] should be continued and the Armenian troops are to withdraw from the occupied lands. Only in those conditions can the border open up," Mammadyarov said.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have not yet resulted in resolving the conflict.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara`s forging relations with Yerevan was impossible as long as the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict remains unresolved, CNN Turk TV channel reported.
At a news conference held during a visit to London, where Erdogan traveled to attend a G20 summit, he said Turkey would like "to live in a world of peace" and the movement to improve ties with Armenia served that goal. "I am confident that normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations will positively affect resolution of the Garabagh problem."