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YEREVAN SHOULD REFUSE FROM TERRITORIAL CLAIMS FOR OPENING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER вЂ" TURKISH MP

Politics Materials 5 October 2005 20:00 (UTC +04:00)
YEREVAN SHOULD REFUSE FROM TERRITORIAL CLAIMS FOR OPENING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER вЂ" TURKISH MP

Interview with Murad Merjan, the head of the Turkish Parliamentary Representatives to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)

Question: How do you estimate the prospects of talks between Turkey and the European Union?

Answer: Turkey is the first Turkic and Islamic country which started discussions on membership with the European Union. I hope Turkey to become a full-member of the EU in the end of talks.

The process assumes great importance for the world. Firstly, the commencement of the discussions will be a symbol of co-residence of people with different cultures, beliefs and race. We claim and want to achieve it. Turkey’s membership at the EU will promote the destruction of ideas by supporters of a thesis �collision of cultures’.

Talks between Turkey and the EU have continued for over 10 years. The discussion of the frame document does not envisage any commitments for Turkey before Armenia. Probably, Armenia aspires to opening the border with Turkey.

We also want to set up relationships with neighbors. However, it requires the implementation of some terms. Otherwise, it is not worth to expect any progress.

Yerevan must put in order the relationships with its neighbors and refuse from territorial claims for the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. In the contrary, the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relationships will be out of question.

Question: Which significance does the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway route assume for Turkey?

Answer: The project is of great importance for Turkey. The highway will intensify Turkey’s exit to the East and increase its goods turnover with the eastern countries. Periodical problems evolving in the project are natural, while their resolution will be achieved gradually. We pin great hopes on the project.

Question: How could you comment on the consideration of two documents linked with the �Armenian genocide’ at the US Congress?

Answer: Different world countries periodically discuss the documents directed against Turkey. Indeed, it is all done through the Armenian lobby. Turkey is ready to face with its history. Ankara proposed Armenia to establish special scientific commission which would consider the �genocide’ problem.

We are ready to open our archives, while Armenia has not given positive reply to our proposal. In this respect Armenia did not have serious and sincere spirits, the state affair require such qualities. The current position will not enable Armenia to achieve anything вЂ" everyone understands it.

Question: Heikki Talvitie, the European Union’s (EU) Special Representative to the Southern Caucasus, has recently stated Azerbaijan suffers definite difficulties in joining the EU’s New Neighborhood Policy due to problems with the Southern Cyprus…

Answer: Azerbaijan has a long ago gained a right for getting closer with the EU and it assumes importance for both countries. Azerbaijan is an important country.

The Southern Cyprus
with population of 200,000-300,000 people cannot do harm to the relationships of Azerbaijan with the Turkish community of the Northern Cyprus. The Greek community of Cyprus will not achieve its desire.

Question: How do you view the future prospects of the Turkish-Azerbaijani relationships?

Answer: Former late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev was right noting that we are one nation and two states. Friendship and fraternity of our nations are forever. We are the elements of one and the same nation.

We are keen to achieve highest development through expanding the cultural, economic and social bonds. I do not share a notion of Turkey and Azerbaijan. Our countries always and everywhere support each other.

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