Turkey campaign to counter Armenia border opening
A signature collection campaign was launched in
Turkey on Monday to prevent the planned opening of the border with
Armenia prior to a solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
According to Turkey’s Erzurumgazetesi website, the campaign was organized in the town of Igdir by the ASIM DER union, which aims to counter Armenian claims about the alleged 1915 genocide in the Ottoman Empire. The collected signatures will be sent to the foreign ministry.
Turkey and Armenia have faced differences for decades. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and genocide claims. In a bid to normalize ties, Turkey signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen its border with Armenia in Zurich on October 10. The move has triggered a cool-down in its relations with Azerbaijan, Turkey’s ally. However, Turkish officials have pledged that Ankara could normalize its relations with Yerevan only after the Garabagh conflict has been fairly settled.
Goksel Gulbey, ASIM DER chairman, accused Armenians of insincerity. He noted that Armenia is seeking to reopen the border and normalize its ties with Turkey but has availed of every opportunity to assert that it will never pull of the occupied Azerbaijani territories, adding that Turkey is obliged to support Azerbaijan.
"If Armenians are sincere, they should withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Otherwise, the border will not open, and ASIM DER’s actions will continue. First, we will start a sit-in protest and then take on a hunger strike," Gulbey told reporters.*
According to Turkey’s Erzurumgazetesi website, the campaign was organized in the town of Igdir by the ASIM DER union, which aims to counter Armenian claims about the alleged 1915 genocide in the Ottoman Empire. The collected signatures will be sent to the foreign ministry.
Turkey and Armenia have faced differences for decades. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and genocide claims. In a bid to normalize ties, Turkey signed protocols to establish diplomatic relations and reopen its border with Armenia in Zurich on October 10. The move has triggered a cool-down in its relations with Azerbaijan, Turkey’s ally. However, Turkish officials have pledged that Ankara could normalize its relations with Yerevan only after the Garabagh conflict has been fairly settled.
Goksel Gulbey, ASIM DER chairman, accused Armenians of insincerity. He noted that Armenia is seeking to reopen the border and normalize its ties with Turkey but has availed of every opportunity to assert that it will never pull of the occupied Azerbaijani territories, adding that Turkey is obliged to support Azerbaijan.
"If Armenians are sincere, they should withdraw from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Otherwise, the border will not open, and ASIM DER’s actions will continue. First, we will start a sit-in protest and then take on a hunger strike," Gulbey told reporters.*
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