Azerbaijan, Baku, June 11 / Trend , U.Sadigova/
Ankara does not take any steps to detriment of Azerbaijan' interests, Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilij said.
"We must address problems in relations with Armenia. But Turkey will not do it by harming Azerbaijan's interests," Kilij said to reporters at Strategic Research Institute under Azerbaijani president.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia's claims of an alleged genocide, the country's occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands and claims to Turkey's Anatolia.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football match.
Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two countries ever since.
The ambassador said some forces tried to undermine Turkey-Azerbaijan ties. However, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to Baku put an end to false reports.
"Turkey will not open borders with Armenia until Azerbaijan's legal lands are liberated. Azerbaijan's lands have been occupied for 16 years. This problem must be resolved as soon as possible," he said.
Turkey showed the world that it will not ignore Azerbaijan's interests. Azerbaijan should show the same.
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.