AZERBAIJANI WOMEN MPS VISIT TURKEY

Baku, April 22 (AzerTAc). The women parliamentarians of Azerbaijan visited Turkey on April 14-18 at the invitation of the chairwoman of the Turkish World Women`s Association Senol Bal. The parliamentary delegation included Ganire Pashayeva, Guler Ahmadova, Lale Abbasova and Aynur Guliyeva.
During the visit, Azerbaijani MPs attended the meeting on the “Armenian issue”.
The delegation met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul to voice concern over speculations on opening of Turkey-Armenia border.
President Gul noted Turkey would not do anything that could let down Azerbaijan and would not sign any document against Azerbaijan. Gul said he discussed Nagorno-Karabakh problem with US President Obama during his Turkey visit.
The Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation expressed concern over the possibility of opening the Turkish-Armenia border in the meetings with Koksal Toptan, chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Ali Babacan, Foreign Minister, Nimet Cubukcu, State Minister, Said Yazicioglu, State Minister for relations with Turkic world and other officials.
Turkish officials said borders may not be opened until Azerbaijani lands are freed. Armenia must pull out its forces from occupied territories of Azerbaijan and give up “Armenian genocide” claims if it wants opening of borders.
Azerbaijani MPs also met with representatives of Turkish newspapers Radikal, Ortadogu, Hurriyet, Turkiye, Yeni cag, Sabah, Tercuman as well as Start, TGRT, TV 8, Avrasiya, Sky Turk, Ses TV and other TV channels.
During all meetings, MPs stressed the need to take into account Azerbaijan`s interests in normalizing Turkey-Armenia relations.