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AK Party surrenders some principal aspects for Turkey: Turkish MP

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 13 April 2009 18:09 (UTC +04:00)
AK Party surrenders some principal aspects for Turkey: Turkish MP

Azerbaijan, Baku, April 13 / Trend , R. Hafizoglu/

Member of the Turkish parliament says statement by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan claiming that Turkey-Armenia border will not be opened until Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved is less convincing.

"It would like to believe in Prime Minister Erdogan's statement. Unfortunately, the government does not inform opposition and parliament about the talks with Armenia. We hear everything from the Armenian President. Armenian President says borders will be opened without any condition. The talks once again prove that AK Party [ruling Justice and Development Party] surrenders some principal aspects for Turkey," MP from the Republican People's Party Janan Aritman told Trend from Anakara over telephone.

Following strong protests by the Turkish and Azerbaijani public, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters earlier last week that Turkey will not open borders with Armenia until Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved.

Different circles in Turkey claim Turkey-Armenia borders 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.

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.

"We think our government's policy will yield good results neither in the Caucasus nor in Azerbaijan. On the contrary, it will harm our relations with Azerbaijan. Despite government's policy towards Armenia, Turkish population will oppose opening of border until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved," MP said.

Aritman said if Turkey-Armenia border is opened, both opposition and Turkish population will be against it.

"I will raise the issue of government's wrong policy at the parliamentary meeting tomorrow. Let our Azerbaijani brothers not to worry. Government is temporary, but nation is permanent. We will be a unified nation forever. No government will be able to open borders until Azerbaijani lands are liberated," Aritman added.

Aritman said new operations against the Ergenkon terrorist organization is a game by government. 

"By conducting operations against Ergenkon, the government tries to divert population's opinion from opening of the Turkey-Armenia border," he said. 

Aritman said the guilt of the university rectors accused of being Ergenkon supporter is simply a love for their nation and land.

New operation was conducted against Ergenkon on April 13. A search was conducted at the house of Bashkent University and Kanal B television channel director as a part of the operation.  

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