Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The normalization of Ankara-Yerevan relations and the possibility of reopening the Armenian-Turkish border is in the spotlight of international community during the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutolu's visit to Armenia.

Davutoglu visited Yerevan to attend the Foreign Ministers Council of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on December 12.

Following the meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council, Davutoglu met with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian, Turkish media reported.

Davutoglu said Ankara supports the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and Turkey is ready to take all steps to normalize these relations.

He said Ankara attaches special importance to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, but it is possible only after the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Davutoglu was met with protests in Yerevan. The representatives of Armenian youth and student unions gathered in front of the hotel, where Davutoglu was to stop and shouted anti-Turkish slogans.

Commenting on the possibility of opening the Armenian-Turkish border, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov said on December 11 that Turkey closed its border with Armenia for two reasons.

He said the first reason was Armenia's territorial claims against Turkey, and the second was the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia.

"If we consider this issue today, we will see that nothing has changed. Armenia still has a hostile attitude toward Turkey. Yerevan has given up neither its open territorial claims toward Turkey, nor its claims for 'recognition' of the 'Armenian genocide' in the global scale," Khalafov said.

He went on to note that the Azerbaijani lands are still occupied and the negotiations, held in this regard, have not brought any results.

Khalafov said the problem has not been resolved because of Armenia's lack of constructive position on the issue.

"Armenia is not ready for a settlement. The reason for lack of progress in the peace process is the lack of will from Armenian side, in particular lack of political will," the diplomat said.

He went on to say that other neighboring countries must not remain indifferent and should express their attitude to the aggressive policy of Armenia.

"We believe that Iran and Russia must also exert pressure on Armenia because the main cause of violating peace and stability in the region today is Armenia's policy," Khalafov said.

He also said a new approach must be demonstrated on the international plan, especially by France, Russia and the U.S, which have taken an intermediary mission in the OSCE.

Khalafov added that the actions must be taken to promote this process.

The United States hailed Davutoglu's visit to Yerevan as a chance for the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

The U.S. State Department said Davutoglu's participation at the meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council in Yerevan can lead to a dialogue between the leaders of the regional states, thus resulting in positive progress in Armenian-Turkish relations.

The Turkish Government has repeatedly stated that Ankara's position with regard to the Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations is clear and specific. Ankara says negotiations on the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations can only come about after the liberation of Azerbaijan's occupied 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 had caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.