Toptan: "Turkey won't normalize relations with Armenia wthout a solution to the Karabakh issue"

On an official visit to Baku, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan yesterday met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Oktay Asadov. During the meeting, Asadov said, "Turkey and Azerbaijan support each other at every international forum. We share the same roots, and we are one nation with two states." Stressing that economic ties between the two countries fall short of their potential, Asadov said, "We must work hard to boost bilateral trade." Praising Turkey's stance on the Karabakh issue, he added, "Also, Azerbaijan gives full support to Turkey against the so-called Armenian genocide claims from Armenia." For his part, Toptan said, "I feel at home in Azerbaijan. We are very excited to see the cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan in all areas." Toptan also said, "Unless the Karabakh issue is solved, Turkey won't normalize its relations with Armenia. Turkey urges Armenia to end its occupation of Karabakh, which belongs to Azerbaijan. Armenia will benefit the most from this issue being solved. Turkey only wants peace in Karabakh." He added, "The close cooperation among Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia should be a role model for countries that have problems." Toptan was also received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.