PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV MEETS WITH TURKISH PRIME MINISTER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN
[May 16, 2005, 12:52:22]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 16 2005
On May 15, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met at his temporary
residence in Warsaw with Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, AzerTAj’s own correspondent reports from
Polish capital.
Reportedly, the meeting has focused on further development and
strengthening of friendly and brotherly relationship between Azerbaijan
and Turkey, and a number of other issues of mutual interest.
Afterwards, President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan have held a briefing for media representatives.
President Ilham Aliyev noted they had exchanged views on a wide range
of issues including those related to the processes taking place in the
region and security ones. He added his recent meeting with Armenian
President R. Kocharyan had also been discussed with the Turkish
Premier. ‘Turkey and Azerbaijan are strengthening their positions in
the region. Uniting us the large-scale energy project, is about to be
completed in a few days; with commissioning the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, our relationship will enter a new stage. I hope the two
friendly and brotherly countries will continue to support each other,
and our two nations will be together forever,’ he said.
For his part, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed
out they had discussed all the issues concerning relationship between
the two friendly and brotherly nations. He thanked the Azerbaijani
leader for updating him on the meeting with the Armenian President.
‘We are not indifferent towards the problem, and have been closely
watching the steps taken towards resolution of the conflict. What we
wish is the problem be solved as soon as possible. I think this will
bring the region to peace and security,’ he said.
The Turkish Premier has finally expressed hope the Summit would be
fruitful for all Council of European’s member-countries.
Then, President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
answered questions from journalists.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, what would you say about the today’s meeting
on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN: Each meeting is a step towards progress.
Q. Are you going to meet with Kocharyan?
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN: No, we had no plans to meet.
Q. Is the Armenia’s stance still tough, or softening tendencies may
be expected?
ILHAM ALIYEV: You know, the stance is known. This problem has been
discussing for years, and both parties have their own positions.
Today, these positions have been discussed once again. You know that
Foreign Ministers too meet frequently. We decided today with the
Armenian President, however, not to make statements to the media on
the talks we had held. Because it is too early. Hope the negotiations
will yield results and our problems will be solved. Thank you.