“As long as the occupied lands are not free and the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not solved in this frame, a complete normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations is not possible. The opening of borders is also an issue that should be seen in this frame,” Davutoğlu said.
Davutoğlu held a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani and Georgian counterparts after the tripartite meeting, which touched on enhancing regional cooperation on the issues of common interest to all three countries and reviving decisions made in previous meetings.
Armenian-backed separatists took Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan in a war in the early 1990s that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives. A 1994 cease-fire ended major hostilities, but no peace accord has been reached, and clashes regularly erupt. About 20 troops from either side have been killed on their frontier in the past year.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/armenia-border-wont-be-opened-until-karabakh-retreat-turkish-fm-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=62702&NewsCatID=338
19/2/14
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Turkish FM: Relations with Armenia to remain frozen until Nagorno-Karabakh dispute is solved...
ReplyDeleteA normalization of relations between Turkey- Armenia is impossible without a solution to the 20 year-old conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, said Turkish foreign minister during a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani and Georgian counterparts Elmar Memmedyarov and Maya Pandjikidze in the Azerbaijani city Ganja on Wednesday.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a brutal three year war over the mainly Armenian-populated region in 1991-1994, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Baku's army was later defeated and the territory occupied by Armenian and separatist forces.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said opening the border with Armenia would be possible if Yerevan withdraws its forces from the region.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Memmedyarov said they discussed the Southern Gas Corridor from the Caspian Sea to Turkey and the EU, energy issues and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars regional rail link project, which will directly connect Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
He also said they exchanged views on further developing relations.
A joint declaration was signed by the three ministers after the annual Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia tripartite meeting.
The first meeting took place in Turkey in 2012 and the second in Georgia.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/290387--turkish-fm-relations-with-armenia-to-remain-frozen-until-nagorno-karabakh-dispute-is-solved
19/2/14