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"We will maintain Azerbaijan's interests as Turkey's," Turkish Prime Minister Receb Tayyib Erdigan said at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the CNN Turk reported.
Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministers, Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocol in Zurich on Oct. 10.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia's claims of an alleged genocide, and the country's occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands.
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.
Turkey will support Azerbaijan's interests as its own, Erdogan added.
Erdogan also said that he is loyal to his statements made at the Azerbaijani parliament.
Turkey will never take steps contradicting Azerbaijan's interests, Erdogan said.
Some forces want to damage the Turkey-Azerbaijan relations and they are within Turkey, Erdogan said.
"I want to tell the Azerbaijani people that your joy is Turkey's joy and your grief is Turkey's grief," Erdogan added.
Erdogan asked not to believe those who want to damage the Turkey-Azerbaijan relations.
Erdogan also mentioned that he had a very sincere meeting with the Azerbaijani MPs.
trend.az
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