Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 23 / Trend M.Aliyev /
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkish-speaking countries (TurkPA) must develop efficient mechanisms to work within international organizations to address issues affecting the interests of Turkic peoples, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Vice Speaker Bahar Muradova said at a summit of the European Azerbaijani Congress and Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organization Coordination Council, the Azerbaijani State Committee for the Diaspora said today.
The European Azerbaijani Congress and Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organization Coordination Council held a joint meeting in Frankfurt Nov. 21-22.
Azerbaijani Parliamentary Vice Speaker Bahar Muradova and Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department head Ali Hasanov participated at the meeting, as well as State Committee for Diaspora Activities Chairman Nazim Ibrahimov, Azerbaijani MPs Sabir Rustamkhanli and Fazil Mustafayev, several Turkish MPs, scientists and intellectuals from the European Azerbaijani Congress and Azerbaijani-Turkish Diaspora Organization Coordination Council.
According to Muradova, TurkPA member countries must bring the structure to an international level, forming a parliamentary assembly composing all such organizations across the world.
Muradova said the assembly must organize activities to form a unified position on matters that affect the interests of Turkic-language countries.
However, Azerbaijan's and Turkey's solidarity is at the moment of the utmost importance, she said. According to the official, foreign countries are attempting to influence their relations.
Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were broken due to Armenian claims of an alleged genocide and its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Their border closed in 1993.
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.
Representatives of the Turkish government have repeatedly stated the impossibility of opening the Turkish-Armenian border until Azerbaijani lands are de-occupied.
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