Azerbaijan, Baku, April 8 / Trend , A. Huseynbala/
Azerbaijani top opposition parties have adopted a statement against the opening of the Turkey-Armenia border.
"Turkey's opening of borders with Armenia, who does not surrender territorial and 'genocide' claims, will not contribute to development of its national interests, regional development and resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Musavat party told Trend on April 8.
Different circles in Turkey claim Turkey-Armenia borders 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 Sargsyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football match.
Musavat says the current situation will provide for a realization of national and regional interests of unfriendly states. It can also harm Turkey-Azerbaijan ties which have great potential. Azerbaijan is Turkey's ally, friend and brother in the region.
Musavat party was founded in Baku in 1911. The party's was re-launched on Nov. 7, 1992. Gambar was elected chief of Musavat party with majority of votes. Isa Gambar, was the former Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament in 1992 to1993 and was nominated for the 2003 presidential elections. The Party is represented by four MPs in the parliament.
"Opening of Turkey-Armenia borders will not bring peace and stability to the region, but will impede conflict resolution. It will also encourage Armenia's militarism policy and new territorial claims," the Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP) told Trend .
The statement says resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the international law in a fair way is crucial to sustainable in the South Caucasus. "Opening of Turkey-Armenia borders will harm the entire Turkic world, Turkic unity and Azerbaijan-Turkey relations. The ANIP strongly opposes opening of the borders and considers it as a support to an occupier country. We call on Turkish public to be sensitive on this issue," the document said.
The ANIP, founded in 1992, is the first officially registered political party in Azerbaijan. Etibar Mammadov was the founder and chairman of the party until 2004. At present, Mammadov is the deputy chairman of the International Democratic Society.
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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