Turkish ambassador to Russia reaffirms Karabakh pre-condition

Ankara will take relevant steps to normalize relations with Yerevan as soon as there is progress in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and as soon as the situation is changed, said Turkish Ambassador to Russia Khalil Akinji, reported by Azerbaijani news website 1news.az.

"In 1993 Turkey decided to close the border with Armenia due to the Karabakh issue. If we understand today why the border was closed, then it will be clear why it cannot be opened," said he.

Further Mr Akinji said that Ankara would not normalize relations with Yerevan unless the Karabakh pre-condition is met.

"The border will open only after Armenia withdraws from the occupied territories. I am stressing that only in that case will the border be opened and relations normalized. It is not fixed in the Protocols, but it is implied," said Mr Akinji.