Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemns shooting of ‘innocent’ shepherd by Armenian soldiers

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Mustafa Ülker's body was returned by Armenian side and taken to a hospital. AA Photo

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the shooting of a shepherd by Armenian border guards at the eastern Kars province.
 
“We strongly condemn the shooting of an innocent citizen for a simple border infringement apparently made very innocently,” the ministry said in the statement on Aug. 1.
 
"There is no valid explanation for the excessive use of Armenian force in such an ordinary event," the statement added.

The ministry said in the statement that all necessary diplomatic steps would be taken, calling on Yerevan to show “good sense” in its relations with neighbors.

"This sort of developments show the need for a complete, sustainable and comprehensive normalization process in the South Caucasus region," the statement read.

Mustafa Ülker, 35, had illegally passed over to the Armenian side crossing the Arpaçay river bordering the two countries, reportedly in an attempt to retrieve a lost sheep. He was then shot by Armenian soldiers on the border late July 31.

Ülker’s body was sent to Erzurum after the incident.

He will be laid to rest in Kars’ Akyaka district after an autopsy is performed.