Azerbaijan, Baku, October 12 / Trend A.Huseynbala /
"Along with the distrust, which was brought to the community by Turkey's action against its promises that no relationship will be established between Turkey and Armenia without liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories will cast a shadow on the friendly and fraternal relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan," said the statement by Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP).
Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers, Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the protocol Ankara-Yerevan in Zurich on Oct. 10.
On Aug. 31, Turkey and Armenia in the talks mediated by Switzerland reached an agreement to launch "internal political consultations" to sign the Protocol on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and Protocol on Development of Bilateral Relations, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reported.
Political consultations will be completed within six weeks, and following that two protocols will be signed and submitted to the two countries' parliaments for approval, the ministry reported.
Signing these protocols creates a situation in which Azerbaijan will be left alone before aggressor Armenia, as well as creates serious obstacles for the return of occupied lands and restoration of violated rights of over one million refugees, said in party's statement.
"Respecting the sovereign rights and the politics of each state, including Turkey, we welcome the establishment of good neighborly relations. However, we think that these relations should be based on mutual respect and international principles. Turkey's establishing ties with Armenia, which officially pursues terrorist and aggressive policy in the region, will create a new threat to peace and stability," the statement said.
ANIP hopes that taking into account the legitimate concerns and dissatisfaction of the Azerbaijani public, the Turkish authorities will approach this issue sensitively and carefully.
"We are concerned about Turkey's attitude toward this issue only from the standpoint of removing the obstacles for EU integration and withdrawing the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from this agreement," the press service of Azerbaijan Democratic Party (ADP) told Trend on Oct. 12.
The opposition party is also concerned that the signing of the protocol will strengthen the position of the Armenians and their opportunities to put pressure on Azerbaijan in the solution of the conflict will increase.
ADP considers it necessary for Azerbaijan to re-establish its relations with Turkey at the highest level, including the establishment of a bilateral military union.
"Turkey's signing "Swiss protocols" with Armenia is a betrayal for the interests of Azerbaijan," said in the statement by the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO).
Turkey's signing these protocols brings a heavy blow to Azerbaijan's position in negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh, the organization said. "By this action, Turkey justifies the act of occupation undertaken by Armenia, and the fact that it has not yet released the Azerbaijani lands, and creates conditions for Armenia's becoming a more ambitious and uncompromising side in the talks on Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkish authorities neglected the interests of Azerbaijan, refused to take priority of the Karabakh solution and turned into an instrument in the policy to give Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia," said the statement.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
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