Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated in the “100th Anniversary of the Liberation of Baku” event in Azerbaijan, where he spoke about Armenia and the Karabakh conflict.
Erdogan, while speaking of the brotherhood between Turkey and Azerbaijan, said that Azerbaijan’s success is Turkey’s success, as well as its pride, difficulties, and problems.
“The Karabakh issue is Azerbaijan’s biggest problem, and it’s just as difficult for us too. Turkey will continue to support Azerbaijan’s efforts to find a solution.”
Erdogan also emphasized that the mandatory condition to fixing relations with Armenia is finding a solution to the Karabakh conflict.
“We want to put an end to the longing millions of our brothers have felt for their country for several years. It’s vain and ineffective to assume that we will open the border, since 20 percent of our brother’s land continues to be occupied by them.”
Erdogan said that Armenians have to be the ones to take the first step, and Turkey’s position on this is final.
“Of course, we want to have positive relations with all of our neighbors. The resolution of the Karabakh conflict is the only condition for fixing our relations with Armenia. Let them know that without that, it’s impossible.”
Milliyet