NewsAm Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to questions about Armenia after delivering speech in the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe.

Commenting on a question whether Turkey becomes a conflicting party when it links opening of Armenia-Turkey border with resolution of the Karabakh conflict, Erdogan said border opening is a different question.

“As to protection of Armenians’ rights in Turkey, it is one of our obligations and we are adherent to it. On the other hand, we protect interests of fraternal Azerbaijan and we cannot accept violation of Azerbaijani’s rights by Armenians,” he said adding that Turkey is ready to open border if certain steps are taken.

Premier Erdogan stressed that they always called for OSCE Minsk Group’s active participation in the Karabakh peace process. “As soon as the Minsk Group fulfills its commitments, we will reach solution,” he added.

Erdogan mentioned 70,000 Armenians reside in Turkey, while another 40,000 came to Turkey from Armenia. “We can deport them but understand that they were urged to leave their country. We signed protocols in Zurich to solve our problems. However, nowadays Armenia is ashamed of the Diaspora and is faced with problems while moving alone. If the Armenian government took more determined and consistent steps in right direction, we would be able to advance and open the border. We feel no hatred against Armenians and Armenia,” he said.