PRESIDENT REMINDS CLOSE TIES BETWEEN TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN

Nov 6 2008
Turkey

Turkish President Abdullah Gul hosted a dinner in honor of Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev in Ankara on Wednesday.

Speaking at the dinner, Gul said that Azerbaijan, after it gained its
independence, earned respect from the whole world with the coherent
and careful policies it pursued.

Gul said that the political, economic and cultural relations between
Turkey and Azerbaijan were perfect.

Regarding the recent developments in Caucasus, Gul said that after
the recent developments in the region, Turkey and Azerbaijan were
exerting great efforts to restore peace and stability. He added that
Azerbaijan extended the greatest support to Turkey’s proposal of
Caucasus Stability & Cooperation Platform.

Gul said that Upper Karabakh problem should be solved peacefully and
on basis of UN principles in order to restore peace and stability
in Caucasus.

Gul reminded that Turkey and Azerbaijan fulfilled big projects in
economic area. He said that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline were working successfully,
and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project would be completed soon.

Aliyev, who also spoke at the dinner, congratulated Turkey which was
elected non-permanent member to UN Security Council. Aliyev appreciated
Turkey’s role for stability of Caucasus.