AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH PRESIDENTS MAKE STATEMENTS FOR PRESS
Azeri Press Agency
Sept 11 2008
Azerbaijan
Baku-APA. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of
Turkey Abdullah Gul made statements for the press. Azerbaijani leader
said after welcoming the guest he discussed with his counterpart all
directions of bilateral relations once again and they passed decisions
about the joint activity in future, APA reports.
"Our relationship is at high level. Reciprocal visits of heads of
states and governments and very active relations, of course, increase
opportunities for operative reaction to the regional processes. A
lot of joint projects are carried out at bilateral level. Energy
and transport corridors tied Turkey and Azerbaijan are successfully
functioning. All these are successful results of our joint efforts".
The president said exploitation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum oil and gas pipelines enabled us to meet economic
and political interests of both countries much more and emphasized that
successful measures were taken in the transport sector as well. "All
our economic and political initiatives contribute to the cooperation,
stability and peace in the region. We can state with absolute
confidence that Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s policy, initiatives made
in the region will create conditions for strengthening of stability
today and in future".
Azerbaijani president said while discussing bilateral relations and
regional situation, as well as latest developments with Abdullah
Gul, they discovered once again that Turkey and Azerbaijan had same
positions, interests and views. "It is very important, because it
strengthens traditional friendship and fraternity between the both
countries and on the other hand, it is not secret that Turkey’s and
Azerbaijan’s role and influence in the region are increasing. It has
different reasons and of course, our activity contributes to these
reasons. We see very clear view of joint activity in future and I am
sure that joint efforts will bring peace to the region".
The head of state stressed that Nagorno Karabakh problem moved to the
forefront and long-time unresolved problem was a great threat for
both Azerbaijan and the region. "We want the issue to find soonest
solution based on the norms of international law. Azerbaijan clearly
shows its position in the international organizations".
Reminding about the positions of the United Nations and other
international organizations on Nagorno Karabakh, the head of
state once again said that we wanted to end this occupation. Ilham
Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan was loyal to the peace process
and therefore despite the talks remained without results for more
than 15 years, Azerbaijan continues the process. "Solution of this
issue should be based on the norms and principles of international
law only. Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity should be restored and
Armenian forces should withdraw from the all occupied lands and one
million Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons should return
home. If we achieve it, absolutely new situation will be created
in the region: cooperation, stability, new economic and political
initiatives, opening the communications. In a word, peace will be
established in the region and development will go more rapidly".
President said the economy of Turkey and Azerbaijan was so strong
that no one could make influence on this development.
"But if we can solve Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
I hope, of course all the countries will develop more rapidly. Every
country will make use of it. We want this. We want peace, tranquility
in the region and want all the countries in the region to establish
normal relations. I reiterate that it requires will and wise steps
of Armenian political leadership," he said.
President said he and his Turkish counterpart thought that new
leadership of Armenia would continue to make efforts for the settlement
of this problem.
"There are some promising factors and data. Of course, I would not
like to overtake the events, but we look forward hopefully. I want to
believe that we will achieve peace in the region owing to the efforts
of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries," he said.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said they had discussed bilateral and
regional issues and underlined that the relations between our countries
were developing perfectly in all spheres. He said Turkey had always
been and would continue to be with Azerbaijan in the political issues.
Turkish President expressed his hope that Nagorno Karabakh problem
between Azerbaijan and Armenia would be solved through dialogue,
understanding and negotiations.
"We think new occasion have arisen to solve the problem lasting for 17
years. I returned from Armenia hopefully. I believe that this problem
will be solved through negotiations. The solution to this problem will
bring peaceful atmosphere to the region and it will mean establishment
of great economic cooperation in the whole region. Oil pipelines,
railways can establish network in the whole Caucasus. That’s why one
should improve the new opportunity and solve the frozen conflicts,"
he said.