U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza says criticism against Armenia by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Poland does not mean end of the Turkey-Armenia dialogue. "The statement by Erdogan does not mean end of the Turkey-Armenia talks," Cihan quoted American co-chair as saying.
On May 15, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Armenia saying that Armenia is experiencing hard times and if Turkey wants it can send back 40,000 Armenians. Erdogan said border with Armenia will not be opened until Nagorno-Karabakh is liberated.
Bryza said Turkey-Armenia ties are accompanied with the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
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