Azerbaijan, Baku, April 7 / Trend , K.Zarbaliyeva/
The Azerbaijani-Turkish Businessmen Association calls upon the Turkey and Azerbaijan authorities to launch an active and sincere dialogue, the Association said to Trend on Tuesday.
"You must not allow Armenia and its allies, i.e. third countries and communities to use existing situation in their favor, you must keep the policy consistent with national interests of Azerbaijan and Turkey," the statement said.
Representatives of different Turkish communities believe that the borders with Armenia will be opened.
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
As far as Armenia does not put aside the recognition of Armenian Genocide, territorial claims and claims for compensation from Turkey and does not absolve the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, and yet would not return to their homes of refugees and internally displaced persons, opening of borders would be in the interests of Armenia and its allies, said the Association.
In the case of opening of Turkish-Armenian border without implementation of abovementioned conditions, the current strategic advantages of Azerbaijan and Turkey will come to end. The political, economic and social ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan and the geopolitical impact of our countries in the region will be damaged, which would weaken the possibilities of control over energy resources.
Azerbaijan-Turkish Businessmen Association protests opening of the border between Turkey and Armenia and said that this step will not bring any benefit to Turkey.
Association hopes that the Turkish authorities will view the opening of the borders more carefully and closely and will proceed from the interests of both countries.
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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