ABDULLA GUL: I AM PROUD OF AZERBAIJAN’S DEVELOPMENT

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 1 2007

We are glad to see progresses in Azerbaijan. This country develops
on the way paved by Heydar Aliyev. When we remind past of fraternal
country, we see today’s development better.

Azerbaijan is a country which attracts attention of the whole world.

Economics is strengthening, democracy is developing. Of course,
there can be several problems, but no country solves problems in a
day. I see that Azerbaijan is developing. Country media write what
they want, political figures express their opinions freely. All
these will strengthen Azerbaijan. Democracy should be strengthened
in Azerbaijan. It will give an impetus on informing world community
about Nagorno Karabakh conflict well. I am proud of Azerbaijan’s
development, Turkish President Abdulla Gul said in an interview to a
group of Azerbaijani media representatives in Ankara today. Turkish
president speaking about Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline stressed
that this project becomes true.

"We are about to open Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline. We also start
construction of Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi railway. We do not speak,
we work. This railway will extend till Kazakhstan and China.

We will always help in the implementation of these projects. We pay
attention to security issues while preparing projects. There was
not threat against pipelines till now. But we will continue taking
measures beforehand," he said.

Abdulla Gul noted that fighting against terrorism is priority for
Turkey.

"This issue was largely debated. We attach great importance to Iraq’s
borders. We do not need Iraq’s oil and gas. Arabs, Turkmens and Kurds
in Iraq are our brothers, we have no problems with them. If there is
terror in Iraq, it should be thwarted. Everybody should cooperate
against terrorism. We will not keep away from military operations,
but there is time for everything. Operations are being carried out
in some of our regions. We can organize operations in terrorist camps
in Iraq," he said.

Commenting on the visit of Turkish Prime Minister and Army General
Ergin Saygun to Washington, Abdullah Gul said they have great
expectations from the visit.

"Prime Minister has advisers on military issues, commanders express
their opinion to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister’s military advisers
accompany him during the visits to foreign countries. This is a very
important visit. You know I had talks with the US officials. Prime
Minister and ministers also had talks. This is one of the important
visits connected with Turkey’s future steps in fighting against
terrorism. The US invaded Iraq. According to the UN statute, there
are issues in Iraq, for which the US is responsible.

The US can not say that fighting against terrorists in Baghdad and
Al-Ambar is its duty, and fighting against terrorists in Northern
Iraq is not its duty. The US can not say it. It is responsible
for the whole situation in Iraq and is obliged to fight against
terrorists all over the country. The US will either fight, or say
"I discriminate terrorists". And it means that the US fights against
one terrorist organization and does not fight against another. The
Prime Minister’s visit to the US is important for making all these
issues clear. It should not also be forgotten that the US recognizes
PKK as a terrorist organization. Therefore we attach great importance
to this visit," he said.