Azerbaijan, Baku, April 7 / Trend , A. Huseynbala/
Azerbaijani media outlets have adopted a statement condemning opening of the Turkey-Armenia border.
Azerbaijani media outlets urged their Turkish counterparts to oppose AK Party's policy to open border with Armenia in a meeting at the Press Council on April 7.
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.
Different circles in Turkey claim Turkey-Armenia borders will be opened.
The statement says Azerbaijani media believes their Turkish counterparts will prevent opening of the border with Armenia by defending justice and relying on professionalism and determination.
Press Council Head Aflatun Amashov said Turkish public must be against opening borders with Armenia who has occupied Azerbaijani lands.
Azerbaijan newspaper editor-in-chief and MP Bakhtiyar Sadigov said Azerbaijan's governmental, opposition and neutral media are against the opening of the Turkey-Armenia border.
"The recent media articles oppose Turkey's policy," Sadigov said.
Baki Khabar newspaper editor-in-chief Aydin Quliyev said Azerbaijani political parties and public organizations' Turkish counterparts must oppose opening of borders.
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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