GUL WELCOMED BY HEYDAR ALIYEV IN BAKU

Sept 10 2008
Turkey

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has arrived in Baku at 16:45 hours
(Turkish local time) in his private jet "ANA".

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has arrived in Baku at 16:45 hours
(Turkish local time) in his private jet "ANA".

Gul was welcomed to the Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport by
Turkey’s Ambassador in Baku Hulusi Kilic and other dignitaries.

Asked, during the flight to Baku, if his recent visit to Armenia
offended Azerbaijan, President Gul said that "Azerbaijan should not
have been offended. Such an act would be unfair. Turkey sacrificed
its interests and gave huge support to Azerbaijan. We are part of the
same nation (with Azerbaijan). I do not think that such a reality has
been weakened. Just as in Turkey, there could be different thinkers
in Azerbaijan. We have respect for all views."

Gul stressed that he received no "suggestion either from the United
States or the European Union on his recent visit to Armenia."

President Gul would return back to Turkey on Wednesday night after
holding talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.