Gates not to be opened before Upper Karabakh Issue gets resolved - Azerbaijani Ambassador toTurkey

Azerbaijan's Ambassador in Ankara, Zakir Hashimov, said Saturday the foreign ministries of Turkey and Azerbaijan discussed Turkish-Armenian relations over phone and reached a common understanding, Anadolu Agency reported.

Speaking to reporters at a fast-breaking dinner in Ankara, Ambassador Hashimov indicated that the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border prior to resolving the Upper Karabakh issue would be against Azerbaijan's interests.

"As Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, we believe that the border will not get opened unless the issue of Upper Karabakh is resolved," Hashimov said.

Asked about what he thinks on two protocols signed by Turkey and Armenia, Ambassador Hashimov stressed that "Turkey is a great country. It is Turkey's own business to decide with which countries it establishes relations".