Expressing his attitude towards the opening of the borders of Turkey and Armenia, the Azerbaijani Consul in the Turkish city of Kars Hasan Sultanoglu said that Turkey will not take any step disappointing Azerbaijan, Cihan news agency reported. "Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister promised Azerbaijan not to open the borders until resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I do not believe that Turkey will take a step disappointing Azerbaijan," said the consul.
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.