AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT RECEIVES TURKISH SUPPORT FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE DEAL
by Natalia Leshchenko

World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
November 7, 2008

Following the tradition established by his father, Heydar Aliyev,
President Ilham Aliyev chose Turkey as the destination for his
first official foreign trip after his re-election. Aliyev met both
President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
as well as speaking to the national parliament.

Significance:While in many respects a token visit confirming the
already strong ties between the neighbouring nations, the trip
nevertheless had more than symbolic value, as Aliyev received
full endorsement of his recent trip to Moscow where he signed a
declaration on Nagorno-Karabakh together with Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan. Russia directly handled the rapprochement, mediating the
presidential summit, but this was in line with Turkey’s own policy of
creating a regional security platform. Russia and Turkey’s initiatives
with regard to the Caucasus are complementary, as both sides seek
an alternative to U.S. efforts to advocate their own peace terms
for the troubled region. All in all, the visit marks another turn
of the wheel in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, which is gradually
gaining momentum.