Turkey PM Binds Armenia Rapprochement to Nagorno-Karabakh

Turkey PM Erdogan has reportedly made the application of the agreements with Armenia conditional on the progress of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Photo by EPA/BGNES

A day after Armenia and Turkey signed agreements to normalize their ties, Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan has reportedly linked their application to achieving progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We want all borders to be opened simultaneously. But until Armenia does not pull out of the Azerbaijani region that it occupies, Turkey cannot be positive on this issue,” said Erdogan Sunday at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party, BGNES reported citing information of the AFP.

The Armenia-Turkey border was closed in 1993 by Turkey as an act of support for its ally Azerbaijan, which has been entangled in a conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.

Saturday’s protocols singed by Turkey and Armenia in Zurich envisaged the reestablishing of diplomatic relations and reopening the border. Azerbaijan has reacted negatively to Turkey’s agreement to such rapprochement with Armenia.

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