Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Turkish Prime Minister said his country will continue pursuing its active policy to put an end to the conflict [Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict] in South Caucasus.

Ahmet Davutoglu made the remark during his visit to Philippines, TRT Haber TV channel quoted him as saying on November 17.

Davutoglu said stability in the region and in neighboring countries is among the main priorities of Turkey.

Meanwhile, a member of the board of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party Yasin Aktay told Trend Agency that there are no and never will be any changes in Turkey’s position towards Azerbaijan.

Aktay was commenting on the lack of assessment from Turkish officials over the recent provocations of the Armenian armed forces near the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.

Aktay said despite the fact that the incident was not widely covered by Turkish media, this cannot, in any way, affect the relations between the two countries.

An Armenian MI-24 helicopter flying 1,700 meters northeast of the Kengerli village of Azerbaijan’s Aghdam region attacked the Azerbaijani army positions on November 12. The helicopter was shot down by the Azerbaijani side.

The three crew members on the board of MI-24 helicopter were revealed to be Armenian army's servicemen, who illegally joined the so-called "NKR army." Armenian government made all efforts to deny this fact that the dead crew belonged to its army, but a quick research about the identity of the deceased soldiers revealed that they were Armenian servicemen.

Opening the border?

Another member of the board of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party Mazhar Bagly said the opening of Turkish-Armenian border is out of the question.

He said Turkey will never take steps directed against the interests of Azerbaijan. “Turkey is in favor of having good relations with all neighboring countries, and has always supported Azerbaijan’s interests and will never take any steps against the brotherly country.”

Bagly said everyone has the right to express their views on various issues in Turkey.

Earlier, former Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan UnalChevikoz urged the Turkish government to open the border with Armenia. Chevikoz also said the opening of Turkish-Armenian border may contribute to the normalization of relations with Yerevan.

Azerbaijan-Turkey relations have always been strong due to a common culture and history and the mutual intelligibility of Turkish and Azerbaijani languages.

Turkey was the first country in the world to recognize Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 and has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity, and realize its economic potential that derives from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea.

Turkey cut diplomatic ties and closed its border with Armenia because of Yerevan's claims over the so-called Armenian 'genocide' in the world and occupation of Azerbaijan's territories.

Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.

Turkey has set Armenia's withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions of Azerbaijan as a precondition for establishing diplomatic relations with the country.