SEZER PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR AZERBAIJAN
The New Anatolian, Turkey
April 6 2006
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed late on Tuesday Turkish
support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, underlining
that occupation of Azeri lands blocks efforts aimed at attaining
stability and cooperation in the region.
Sezer, in a speech in Baku at a dinner given by his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilham Aliyev in his honor, called on Armenia to immediately
withdraw its forces from Nagorno-Karabakh.
“The occupation of the lands of another country without any aim
to contribute to the region’s development, peace and stability is
unacceptable for societies that respect law, justice and human rights,”
he said.
While expressing full Turkish support for Azerbaijanis in the disputed
enclave, Sezer underlined the necessity of finding a solution to
the problem in a way that will be acceptable to Azerbaijanis and
that respects the territorial integrity of the country. “Turkey is
determined to continue putting forward initiatives towards a peaceful
solution in Nagorno-Karabakh,” he added.
Touching on bilateral relations between the two countries, Sezer stated
that their ties are based on a unique solidarity and friendship and
expressed Turkey’s aim to further develop the ties that he said set
an example for other countries to follow.
Stressing that strengthening bilateral cooperation is also aimed
at contributing to the region’s peace, stability, prosperity and
security, the Turkish president said that the realization of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project indicates that Ankara and Baku
can succeed in achieving their goals. “We hope success in this sizable
but attainable goal will influence other countries in the region to
take steps expected from them,” Sezer added.
Aliyev for his part underlined the importance of economic
cooperation to further develop relations while making reference to
the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project that will connect Turkey to
Azerbaijan and on to other Asian countries.
Concerning the democratization process in Azerbaijan, Sezer extended
Ankara’s support for Baku’s aim to take its place among the Western
democracies and its position in European Atlantic organizations.