Azerbaijan, Baku, 11 January /Trend, M.Aliyev/
Azerbaijan's ruling party welcomes the decision by the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to dismantle the monument to the Turkish-Armenian friendship in Kars.
"Erdogan's decision to dismantle the monument to the Turkish-Armenian friendship in Kars is commendable. Dismantling this monument is quite logical. This decision reflects the reality and is completely legal," deputy executive secretary of New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Mubariz Gurbanli said in an interview to the party's website.
According to him, the existence of such a monument does not mean anything other than the moral justification of the occupation policy of the Armenians.
"Some circles in Kars believe that opening the border with Armenia will bring economic benefits to Turkey and the region. But this is ridiculous. Armenia's economy is backward, and carrying out trade with Armenia, the border regions of Turkey would receive a tiny profit. There is no significance of trade with Armenia, whose state treasury is empty, and population is poor. The influential circles in Turkey are well aware of it," he added.
According to him, Armenia has territorial claims against Turkey, tries to strike at the international image of Turkey, conducting propaganda of so-called "Armenian genocide". In this case, it is not necessary to erect monuments to non-existent friendship.
During his visit to Kars on Saturday, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered to dismantle the monument, calling it "ugly".
The monument was built during the era of pro-Armenian ex-mayor of Kars, Naif Alibeyoglu in 2008.
The monument, with a height of 30 meters, reflects two figures rushing to each other. It is set on a hill 40 kilometers from the border with Armenia.