Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 17 2006
Antalya Summit starts today
[ 17 Nov. 2006 15:39 ]
Antalya Summit of the Turkish Speaking Countries has started today.
The summit is attended by Turkey’s President Ahmed Nejdet Sezer,
Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev, Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev,
Kyrgyzstan’s Kurmanbek Bakiev.
Turkmenistan is participating in the summit at embassy level, however
Uzbekistan has no representative.
Turkish President Ahmed Nejdet Sezer opened the summit, saying this
event is the start of a new era.
"We see global changes in the world. Cooperation between Turkish
states has become inevitable. Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway
will be a bridge joining Turkish countries," he said.
Ahmed Nejdet Sezer said Turkey has always been together with Azerbaijan
in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to his
Turkish counterpart for the high-level summit.
This kind of events paves the way for new cooperation levels among
Turkish countries. We have left all difficulties behind, we have
defended our independence," he said.
He said the Turkish states are developing very rapidly at present.
"Azerbaijan’s economy growth rate is the leading one in the world.
The economy growth rate hit 26 percent in 2005, but we forecast that
the growth will reach 34 percent this year. The stronger economy we
have, the quicker solution we can find to the problems," he stated.
Touching upon the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and
displacement of over one million people from their native lands
by Armenians, Mr. Aliyev said Azerbaijan can also lay many claims
against Armenia.
"Irevan (Yerevan) khanate was the territory of Azerbaijan. But, we
don’t lay such claims. We want our lands to be liberated in a peaceful
way, however our hopes is running out. Nagorno Karabakh- a criminal
regime- has remained far from international control. They are making
various illicit drugs there, they are preparing for terrorisitc acts
there. The world countries, in particular Turkish ones should pay
attention to this problem. UN Security Council’s four resolutions
on unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azeri lands
remain unimplemented. CE resolutions haven’t yet been implemented
either. Armenia’s aggressive policy has created undesirable situation
in the region," he said.
Mr. Aliyev also said Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway line will
be a direct bridge between Azerbaijan and Turkey and Kazakhstan’s
joining the project is very estimable.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the activities of TURKSOY.
Ilham Aliyev expressed his support for Turkey’s accession to the EU.
"Azerbaijan is very concerned over pressures Turkey faces in the
accession process." He stated.
Kazakhstan’s President spoke of the importance of the union of Turkish
Speaking Countries, suggesting that Higher Council of the Turkish
States should be established and Turkish 9th president Suleyman
Demirel should be the Council President.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev said that economic, political and
cultural cooperation between the Turkish countries should be deepened.
Antalya Declaration will be adopted at the end of the Summit. /APA/