Turkish FM sends terse message to Armenia
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davudoglu has sent a
terse message to Armenia, affirming that Ankara backs Azerbaijan`s
fair cause in the long-standing conflict with its hostile
neighbor.
"The Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and the liberation of the Armenia-occupied territories of Azerbaijan is of great importance for Turkey, and no one should doubt that," Davudoglu told reporters in Baku after talks with his counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on Tuesday.
He once again assured the Azerbaijani government and people that, just as was the case throughout history, Turkey will stand by Azerbaijan now and in the future.
"This is the message I have brought to Azerbaijan from my country`s leadership and 70 million Turkish citizens."
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to its occupation of Azerbaijani territories and its claims regarding the alleged World War I-era genocide. However, there have lately been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties. The two countries` leaders attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September 2008 when Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish president to visit Armenia. Since then, diplomatic efforts aimed at mending ties continued, and some reports earlier circulated that Turkey plans to open its border with Armenia soon, sparking an outcry in Azerbaijan.
Some in Turkey say the country may open the border, which utterly perturbs the Azerbaijani public.
Nonetheless, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a visit to Baku May 12-13 that Turkey will not open up its border with Armenia before the occupation of Azerbaijani territories ends.
Davudoglu said the Garabagh conflict must be resolved under the auspices of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, in accord with relevant United Nations decisions. He also emphasized that progress is discerned in the peace process for the first time in over a decade and advised not to miss this valuable opportunity.
The UN has already passed five resolutions on the unconditional pullout of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Nonetheless, Yerevan is sticking to its policy of occupation and ignoring international law.
"Frozen conflicts in the region are like bombs that can explode any moment," the Turkish minister said, adding that talks should be continued to advance their solution.
"The Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and the liberation of the Armenia-occupied territories of Azerbaijan is of great importance for Turkey, and no one should doubt that," Davudoglu told reporters in Baku after talks with his counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on Tuesday.
He once again assured the Azerbaijani government and people that, just as was the case throughout history, Turkey will stand by Azerbaijan now and in the future.
"This is the message I have brought to Azerbaijan from my country`s leadership and 70 million Turkish citizens."
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to its occupation of Azerbaijani territories and its claims regarding the alleged World War I-era genocide. However, there have lately been signs of normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties. The two countries` leaders attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September 2008 when Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish president to visit Armenia. Since then, diplomatic efforts aimed at mending ties continued, and some reports earlier circulated that Turkey plans to open its border with Armenia soon, sparking an outcry in Azerbaijan.
Some in Turkey say the country may open the border, which utterly perturbs the Azerbaijani public.
Nonetheless, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a visit to Baku May 12-13 that Turkey will not open up its border with Armenia before the occupation of Azerbaijani territories ends.
Davudoglu said the Garabagh conflict must be resolved under the auspices of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, in accord with relevant United Nations decisions. He also emphasized that progress is discerned in the peace process for the first time in over a decade and advised not to miss this valuable opportunity.
The UN has already passed five resolutions on the unconditional pullout of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Nonetheless, Yerevan is sticking to its policy of occupation and ignoring international law.
"Frozen conflicts in the region are like bombs that can explode any moment," the Turkish minister said, adding that talks should be continued to advance their solution.
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