AZERBAIJAN’S AND TURKEY’S PRESIDENTS DISCUSSED NG ISSUE
Azerbaijan Press Agency
April 4 2006
President of Turkey Ahmad Nejdat Sezar, who is visiting Azerbaijan,
met in private with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev today (APA).
After that, meeting of the large delegations of the two countries
were held.
Addressing the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said the two brotherly
countries are cooperating in all spheres, and the political dialogue is
in high level. Commercial, economical and cultural relations between
the two countries are also expanding.
Mr. Nejdat Sezar said that the volume of the trade turnover between
the two countries was $550 million in 2004 and $795 million last
year. The trade turnover will be reached to $1 billion this year. The
Turkish President also said that Turkish businessmen have invested
$4.5 billion in Azerbaijan. Oil sector shares $2.5 billion if this
investments. Mr.Nejdat Sezar expressed interest in deepening the
cooperation in energy sphere and added that TPAO plans to implement
new projects in this field.
The two Presidents gave a briefing later on. The Azerbaijani President
said he attaches great importance to Turkish President’s visit to our
country. Stressing that there exists the highest level of relations
between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Mr. Aliyev noted that future prospects
were discussed in today’s meeting.
“At the same time, we talked about the international relations and
regional cooperation. Both countries are carrying out great energy
projects that are important for the world. The new energy corridors
will represent new opportunities,” the Azerbaijani President stressed.
Aliyev also noted that in today’s meeting, they discussed
Gars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway project. “Our views do not differ
regarding this issue,” he said.
Aliyev also said that he and Nejdat Sezar exchanged views on the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict. Aliyev emphasized that Turkey is always
with Azerbaijan, and added the brotherly country supports Azerbaijan
regarding this issue.
“Azerbaijan’s stance remains unchanged. This conflict can be solved
only within the international law norms and through protection of
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” the Azerbaijani President
underscored.
The Turkish President expressed his delight in visiting Azerbaijan.
He said that he discussed all the issues of mutual interest with
Ilham Aliyev.
“We considered it expedient to deepen relations between the two
countries. Turkey supports all steps taken by Azerbaijan on the way
of economic development,” Nejdat Sezar emphasized.
He also noted that he and Aliyev discussed the issue of settling the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict and stressed that Turkey supports Azerbaijan
in solving this problem.
Nejdat Sezar highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s support for the Turkish
Republic of North Cyprus.
“The cooperation relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan can be a
model for all countries in the region,” he underlined.
The Turkish President also said that he invited President Aliyev to
the opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline scheduled
for May.