YEREVAN -- A Turkish politician says Ankara has pledged not to "upset our Azerbaijani brothers" as they pursue a possible diplomatic breakthrough in relations between Turkey and Armenia, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
Numan Kurtulmus of the Islamist Felicity Party made his comments as the Turkish government meets with all political parties to discuss the issue, as required by the draft protocols agreed on by Turkey and Armenia in late August.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told "Today's Zaman" that Turkey "won't take a step which will sadden" Azerbaijanis.
Kurtulmus went so far as to say that the Turkish-Armenian border cannot be opened "unless Armenia withdraws from the occupied lands of Nagorno-Karabakh."
Many opposition parties in both Turkey and Armenia have expressed their disapproval of an agreement that would normalize relations between the two countries.
Some analysts say the Turkish parliament is unlikely to ratify the protocols if Azerbaijan and Armenia fail to cut a framework peace deal in the coming months.
Numan Kurtulmus of the Islamist Felicity Party made his comments as the Turkish government meets with all political parties to discuss the issue, as required by the draft protocols agreed on by Turkey and Armenia in late August.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told "Today's Zaman" that Turkey "won't take a step which will sadden" Azerbaijanis.
Kurtulmus went so far as to say that the Turkish-Armenian border cannot be opened "unless Armenia withdraws from the occupied lands of Nagorno-Karabakh."
Many opposition parties in both Turkey and Armenia have expressed their disapproval of an agreement that would normalize relations between the two countries.
Some analysts say the Turkish parliament is unlikely to ratify the protocols if Azerbaijan and Armenia fail to cut a framework peace deal in the coming months.
