“The use of force will always meet with opposition. The Turkish side is defending itself rather than trying to attack,” Turkish Honorary Consul in Seattle John Ufuk Gokcen stated in an interview with Aravot newspaper, commenting on Armenia-Turkey relations.

Commenting on the question whether border closure is a protective measure, he said: “No, policy is the problem in this region. All the issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be settled peacefully,” he noted.

“If we live in the past, we will never understand each other and the borders will remain closed. The borders will remain closed for the sake of friendship. The reason for closure is not Armenia, but Azerbaijan,” he emphasized.