Senior Turkish Lawmaker Says Opening Of Armenian Border Related To Settlement Of Karabakh Dispute

AKCAKOCA - A senior Turkish lawmaker said Sunday opening of border between Turkey and Armenia was part of a big package which also includes the settlement of Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
"Opening the border is not a matter started with U.S. President Barack Obama's recent visit to Turkey," Yasar Yakis, head of the EU Adjustment Committee of the Turkish Parliament, told reporters.

The issue is on the table since 2007 with the involvement of Switzerland, Yakis said.

He said Turkey had no problems with the people of Armenia.

"There is a problem caused by Armenian diaspora," he said. "Mr. Obama brought up the matter at his visit to Turkey after a momentum created by the Armenian diaspora in the United States."

Yakis said there was an impression that Turkey would open the border although the Upper Karabakh dispute is not resolved.

"Such an impression is not correct," he said.