Azerbaijan, Baku, April 9 / Trend , J. Babayeva/
First Vice Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament says opening of the Turkey-Armenia border is against Azerbaijan's interests.
"Armenia has fulfilled none of Turkey's conditions. Opening of borders is surprising at least," First Vice Speaker Ziyafat Asgarov told reporters on April 9.
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.
Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two countries ever since.
Asgarov said Turkey-Azerbaijan ties are more than ties of the strategic allies.
"I hope Turkey will not take a step to the detriment of Azerbaijan," he said.
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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