Azeri lawmakers table Armenia ties with Erdogan
A group of Azerbaijani lawmakers visiting Turkey to
express concern over the agreements signed by Turkey and Armenia
last weekend to establish diplomatic relations and reopen their
borders met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on
Wednesday.
The discussions proceeded without the media present, and reporters were only allowed to shoot a short footage of the meeting. Samad Seyidov, chairman of the Milli Majlis (parliament) committee on international relations, told the press the MPs were content with the meeting.
President Abdullah Gul is also expected to host the Azerbaijani parliament members, Turkey’s Ihlas news agency reported. During the week-long-visit, the 11-people-strong delegation is also scheduled to meet with local media and public representatives.
Prior to the meeting, Seyidov emphasized that Azerbaijan and Turkey enjoy friendship dating back to the ancient times, adding that Turkey represents great importance for his country.
"They are saying here that the Azerbaijani delegation has come to protest. But, actually, this is not the case. We have come here to exchange views with our brethren, ponder future plans and further develop Azerbaijan-Turkey friendship," Seyidov said, expressing hope that the visit would be beneficial for both countries.
MP Ganira Pashayeva told a number of media outlets that the Azerbaijani side hopes that the protocols signed by Ankara and Yerevan on Saturday will not pass in the Turkish parliament, in accord with Ankara’s pledges that the border with Armenia will not open until the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict has been settled.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 due to Armenia’s policy of occupation and "genocide" claims. On August 31, Ankara and Yerevan agreed to start domestic consultations on forging diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations. On Saturday, two protocols -- which ultimately seek to open the Turkish-Armenian border – were signed. The parliaments of Armenia and Turkey need to ratify the documents for them to take force.*
The discussions proceeded without the media present, and reporters were only allowed to shoot a short footage of the meeting. Samad Seyidov, chairman of the Milli Majlis (parliament) committee on international relations, told the press the MPs were content with the meeting.
President Abdullah Gul is also expected to host the Azerbaijani parliament members, Turkey’s Ihlas news agency reported. During the week-long-visit, the 11-people-strong delegation is also scheduled to meet with local media and public representatives.
Prior to the meeting, Seyidov emphasized that Azerbaijan and Turkey enjoy friendship dating back to the ancient times, adding that Turkey represents great importance for his country.
"They are saying here that the Azerbaijani delegation has come to protest. But, actually, this is not the case. We have come here to exchange views with our brethren, ponder future plans and further develop Azerbaijan-Turkey friendship," Seyidov said, expressing hope that the visit would be beneficial for both countries.
MP Ganira Pashayeva told a number of media outlets that the Azerbaijani side hopes that the protocols signed by Ankara and Yerevan on Saturday will not pass in the Turkish parliament, in accord with Ankara’s pledges that the border with Armenia will not open until the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict has been settled.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 due to Armenia’s policy of occupation and "genocide" claims. On August 31, Ankara and Yerevan agreed to start domestic consultations on forging diplomatic ties and developing bilateral relations. On Saturday, two protocols -- which ultimately seek to open the Turkish-Armenian border – were signed. The parliaments of Armenia and Turkey need to ratify the documents for them to take force.*
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