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Araz Azimov: If Armenia is ready to recognize Turkeyâ€™s territorial integrity, then we also have the right to demand similar attitude towards the other states of the region, including Azerbaijan

16 October 2009 08:48 (UTC +04:00)

The deputy minister said Azerbaijan understood the importance of Turkeyâ€™s efforts to solve its historical problems and to normalize relations with Armenia. â€œThe establishing of relations is a sovereign right of the countries. Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in a response to the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia. The decision was made in this context and it couldnâ€™t be disaffirmed out of relevant context. We are sure that while the situation is not changed and the lands are under the occupation, the opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders will negatively impact not only on Azerbaijan and the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, but whole South Caucasus as well. It will seriously damage the international efforts to force Armenia to fulfill norms and principles of international law, to respect territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of Azerbaijan, to withdraw troops from Nagorno Karabakh and other occupied territories and to create necessary conditions for internally displaced persons to return home. We have witnessed in the past two months that the opening of borders stimulated Armeniaâ€™s non-constructive position in the peace talks. Even only statement by Turkey, Armenia and Switzerland on the prospects of Turkish-Armenian talks enabled Armenia to toughen its position in the negotiations with Azerbaijanâ€.

â€œWe can say surely that the opening of borders and starting of Turkish-Armenian economic cooperation will assist Armenia to continue occupation. It will prevent Azerbaijani people, including the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh to return to their homelandâ€, said Azimov.

Deputy Minister said the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations will not produce positive results for the region if Armenia does not withdraw its forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories.
â€œThe reopening of Turkey-Armenia border can play an important role as an element of the settlement, in case the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the Azerbaijani territories and reopening of Lachin corridor for the use of all sides happen within the same time frame. After all this, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan may have more favorable opportunities for economic cooperation. Such an approach, as a part of the settlement of the conflict, will be in line with the concept on reopening of all borders and communications in the region. Otherwise, peace and security will be hardly established in the region,â€ he said.

According to Araz Azimov, official Baku will not review any economic cooperation with Armenia unless Armenian troops release Azerbaijanâ€™s occupied territories, including Nagorno Karabakh.
â€œIf Armenia is ready to recognize Turkeyâ€™s territorial integrity, we also have the right to demand similar attitude towards other states of the region, including Azerbaijan,â€ he said.