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Araz Azimov: The issue on the reopening of Turkey-Armenia borders can be included into the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict

09 April 2009 08:12 (UTC +04:00)

The Deputy Minister noted that the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents might take place depending on the will of the heads of states and said media would be informed about the meeting.

Asked whether five regions would be released, Russian troops and international observers would be deployed there, Araz Azimov underlined that deployment of the troops of other states in the territory of Azerbaijan was impossible.
â€œNo state can deploy its troops in the territory of Azerbaijan. As regards five regions, there should be a different approach to the issue. The main goal of Azerbaijan is to ensure friendly neighborhood of Armenian and Azerbaijani communities living in Nagorno Karabakh within the framework of restoration of territorial integrity. This will be achieved step by step. This is a complicated process taking much time from both technical and military aspect. Therefore, it will be step by step anyway. But if the issue on the reopening of Turkey-Armenia borders is being discussed, it can be included into this stage, process,â€ he said.

â€œA part of Azerbaijani territories are emptied, the roads uniting Armenia with Turkey are opened. If there is no improvement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the reopening of the borders will not favor Turkey much. If the territories are released, demilitarization zone will be established there. If the Armenians leave, the security of the returning people should be ensured. If such an agreement is signed, international assistance should be ensured for its implementation. These are being discussed for now. But peacemaking efforts of the co-chairing states will by no means participate in this process,â€ he said.