ENLARGED MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT AND TURKISH PRIME MINISTER
[June 30, 2005, 16:10:32]
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 30 2005
After the one-on-one meeting of the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev and visiting Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip
Erdogan talks were continued in the presence of the two countries’
delegations. Having greeted ones again Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and members of his delegation, President Ilham Aliyev noted
the importance of this visit, which, according to him, would make
new contributions to development of political, economic and cultural
cooperation between the two countries.
Described the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline as a symbol of
friendship and fraternity between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the President
noted the two countries’ joint efforts has turned the legend into
reality. “Azerbaijan-Turkey relationship has great history and
traditions, and I am happy these traditions are alive allowing us
to cope with all the problems we face,” he said. The Head of State
added in this connection, the regional projects would also help with
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,
and taking the chance, expressed his gratitude to the brotherly
country for the constant support in this issue.
Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked the President
for the hospitality, noting they were feeling at home, and expressed
confidence the important future-oriented activities would be of
great benefit for both peoples. He said that in addition to the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines,
which were of exceptional significance for Azerbaijan and Turkey,
the countries would also enhance their trade cooperation. Finally,
recalling the Heydar Aliyev’s “One nation, two states”, the Premier
said: “Turkey has always been side by side with Azerbaijan, and this
policy will be continued in the future.”
***
Afterwards, in the presence of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the parties have
exchanged views on ways of further enhancing the Azerbaijan -Turkey
cooperation.