AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 29 2005

OZDEN ORNEK: `TURKEY WILL NOT OPEN BOARDERS WITH AGRESSOR ARMENIA’
[March 29, 2005, 17:55:35]

Commander of Turkish Naval Forces, Fleet’s Admiral Ozden Ornek was
cordially welcomed in the Defense Ministry where was lined up a Guard
of Honor.

In the meeting, the Minister, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev stated
that the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are high level in
all spheres. Turkey was the first state to recognize sovereignty of
Azerbaijan that regained it. It cannot be otherwise. We are `one
nation, two states’ and have common history, language and religion.
Versatile relations of the fraternal countries cannot be compared
with relations to other countries.

Noting that Turkey supports Azerbaijan in all fields, including in
the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, integration of the
country to the European structures and in the activity in the frame
of NATO PfP program, Mr. Abiyev said the relations between Azerbaijan
and NATO are developing. Last year, President Ilham Aliyev has
presented the Plan of Activity on Individual Partnership in the frame
of NATO’s PfP program to the Secretary General of NATO. Annually,
representatives of the Armed Forces of the Azerbaijan Republic attend
over 300 actions of this structure.

Noting that the military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey is
at high level, Safar Abiyev said that representatives of the armed
forces of the brotherly countries cooperate in Kosovo and Afghanistan
implementing their international humanitarian mission. Cooperation
between the naval Forces develop day by day, and the Turkish side
renders assistance and in this direction. The defense minister of
Azerbaijan thanked to the government of Turkey and management of the
Armed Forces of Turkey.

Commander of Turkish Naval Forces, Fleet’s Admiral Ozden Ornek
expressed pleasure to visit Baku, stating that the goal of the visit
is to expand ties between the Turkish Naval Forces and Azerbaijan
Navy. Because, the beginning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan MEP is in
Azerbaijan while the end is in Turkey. And we should secure this
pipeline of friendship and fraternity.

Colonel-General Safar Abiyev said that the Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations base on a firm ground, the BTC MEP would be commissioned
this year, and that the works for construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline would be launched in 2006. The
Defense Minister especially stressed that the two states should
guarantee safety of the pipelines and platforms. Turkey is one of the
powerful and strongest members of NATO. Therefore, Azerbaijan’s
enemies try to impede this grandiose project. And subsequently, they
render assistance appropriate forces to delay settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. We reiterate that Azerbaijan will not
cede a sod of its lands to Armenia.

The Minister spoke of the current military-political situation in the
South Caucasus, underlining that in realization of the projects, in
fair resolution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Turkey will
always be with Azerbaijan, support it and not open the borders with
Armenia.

Fleet’s Admiral Ozden Ornek, in particular, noted that despite of
pressures on Turkey, we have not opened the borders with Armenia.
Despite continuous attempts of the Armenians, we shall not open our
borders. Turkey and Azerbaijan should always back each other.

Then, the sides had comprehensive exchange of vies on
Azerbaijan-Turkey military ties, including expansion of naval Forces
of both countries.

In the meeting, also was participating Ambassador of Turkey to
Azerbaijan Turan Morali.