Campaign against opening of borders

[ 06 Apr 2009 20:12 ]
Baku. Vugar Masimoglu – APA. Those protesting against opening of borders with Armenia launched internet-campaign in Turkey, APA reports. About thousand of people joined the campaign on .

The people, who joined the campaign, appealed to Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials.

“Media and some nongovernmental organizations often discuss opening of borders with Armenia. Taking into account the following truths, we are thinking of reassessing this probability. When Turkey took steps to improve the relations with Armenia, the opposite side did not give similar reaction. Unilateral approach started with football diplomacy resulted in the statements of Armenian officials that they would not give up their policy. Armenia has not recognized Turkey’s territorial integrity yet and is still using Agri Mountain as a national symbol in official documents,” the appeal says.

Improvement of Turkey-Armenia relations may damage Turkey-Azerbaijan relations because of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Turkey’s stipulation to solve Nagorno Karabakh conflict lasting for 17 years in favor of Azerbaijan does only arise from Azerbaijan’s natural resources and increase of trade turnover with this country. It arises from historical support of Turkey and Azerbaijan “one nation, two states”. If Turkey does this for some profit, in this case relations with Azerbaijan have more privileges. Azerbaijan, which has a lot of oil and gas resources and plays the role of a door to the Central Asia, is more important for Turkey. Armenia can give nothing positive to Turkey.

We all know that Azerbaijan offered material and military assistance to Turkey during the battle of Canakkale. Of course we do not forget Turkey’s supports to Azerbaijan. Turkey has always supported Azerbaijan in the international platforms. Media writes that “the borders may be opened to prevent adoption of the so-called Armenian genocide in the US Congress”. What will Turkey, which will lose Azerbaijan this year, sacrifice next year in order to prevent recognition of the “Armenian genocide?”

We do not believe that Turkey will leave Azerbaijan alone in the issue of Nagorno Karabakh and sign this appeal believing that Turkey-Armenia borders will not open unless Nagorno Karabakh’s occupation by Armenia ends.