The statement has been adopted as a sign of protest against the holding of the conference entitled ‘The Sealed Gate: Prospect of Turkey-Armenia Border’ by the Ankara University jointly with Hrant Dink Foundation.

Opening of borders with Armenia, which has territorial claims to Turkey and has occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories, can cause backfire and even more escalate the tension in the region, said the statement.

The association said that Turkey has closed the borders with Armenia due to its occupation of Azerbaijani lands and they can be opened only after the liberation of these lands.

Dushunce public association also condemns the pressure of some countries, as well as international organizations on Turkey regarding this issue, adding that instead, they should try to prevent Armenia from continuing its policy of occupation.

Meanwhile, the association urged NGOs, public associations operating in Turkey to oppose the attempts to open the borders with Armenia.

The diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia were severed in 1993.

The break in relations and closing of the Turkish-Armenian border in 1993 were due to Armenia`s claims for recognition of the "Armenian genocide" in the world, as well as Armenia`s occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council`s four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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