Azerbaijan, Baku, April 15 / Trend , J.Babayeva/
Azerbaijan opposes the opening of Turkish-Armenian borders and establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia before the Nagorno-Karabakh is resolved.
"Turkey is the strategic partner of Azerbaijan. Any action, which is directed to damage the strategic partnership between the two countries, is unacceptable," the Ana Vatan party Chairman Fazail Agamali said at the Azerbaijan-Turkey: common interests and problems, forum.
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 Sarkisyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football match.
Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two countries ever since.
Turkish deputy from the Republican People's Party Shukru Elekdag said that Turkey supports peace and stability in the South Caucasus. "Peace and stability is impossible before resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he added.
Turkey will reward Armenia by opening the Turkish-Armenian borders, Elekdag said. "The results of poll, which was held in Turkey, showed that 95 percent of the population opposes opening of borders with Armenia. We hope that the Turkish government will take into account people's opinion and will not open the borders before the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in favor of Azerbaijan," he said.
If Armenia would not follow international laws, then the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus will be impossible.
Turkish deputy from the National Movement Party Atilla Gaya said that the Azerbaijan's protest against the possible opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia has affected Turkey's decision.
"Azerbaijani and Turkish peoples will never support the steps taken towards the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, opening of borders," said Gaya.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the borders with Armenia would not be opened before the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after serious protests of Azerbaijani and Turkish communities.
The "Azerbaijani-Turkish: common interests and problems" forum is taking place in the Azerbaijani Parliament. The forum is attended by four Turkish deputies from the Republican People's Party - Shukru Elekdag, Yilmaz Atesh and Shahin Mendu, four deputies from the National Movement Party -Atilla Gaya, Turan Chirkin, Bulend Didin and Azerbaijan independent deputy Muhammed Azeri.
"The brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkey is eternal and nobody can damage these relations," Azerbaijani deputy Agamali 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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