Azerbaijan, Baku, April 10 / Trend , Huseynbala /
The representatives of the Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will discuss the issue of opening Turkish-Armenian borders in Ankara.
"The delegation, which left for Turkey, includes Chairman of Council for State Support to NGOs, MP Azay Guliyev, President of Forum of National NGOs of Azerbaijan, Rauf Zeyni, Chairwoman of Women Union Azeri-Turk, Tanzila Rustamkhanli," the press service of Council for State Support to NGOs told Trend on April 10.
The representatives of different circles of Turkish society suppose that the borders with Armenia will be opened.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia's claims of an alleged genocide, and the country's occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football match.
Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two countries ever since
Azerbaijani delegation will attend the conference on the theme of "Present situation of Turkish-Armenian relations", organized by the Center for International Relations and Strategic Analyzes. "During the visit, which will last by April 15, the representatives of the state sector of Azerbaijan will meet with the state and government officials of Turkey, leaders of political parties, MPs, representatives of NGOs and media outlets, and also bring to the attention of community their position and concerns over the possible opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders," the same source said.
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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