U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, TURKISH PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER PHONED AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ASKING HIM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT IN ISTANBUL

APA
April 6 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev did not change his decision on
refusing the visit Istanbul. Mayis Alizadeh – APA. Turkish President
Abdullah Gul and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have today
phoned Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev asking him to participate
in The Alliance of Civilizations in Istanbul. According to APA’s
Turkey bureau Turkey-based Referans newspaper and hurriyyet.daily.com
reported it.

APA’s local bureau reports quoting sources in Turkey that Turkey’s
President Abdullah Gul first phoned Azerbaijani President. The head
of state protested against the issue on opening of Turkey-Armenia
borders and did not change his decision on refusing to participate
in the event.

Following this, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan phoned
Azerbaijani President. Prime Minister could not change the president’s
decision, either.

Then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton phoned to Azerbaijani
President and told about the prospects of meeting between Azerbaijani
and US leaders in Istanbul, but the head of state of Azerbaijan has
not changed his decision not to attend the event.

Turkish sources said in all phone conversations, the President
of Azerbaijan expressed his protest against the opening of
Turkish-Armenian borders and said it caused great protest among the
Azerbaijani society. The head of state said that this process would
have a negative impact on the processes in the South Caucasus and on
the relations between the two countries as well.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev refused to attend the "Alliance of
Civilizations" meeting in Istanbul because of reports on the Turkey’s
preparation to open the borders with Armenia.

APA was first to report about the President’s refusal to visit
Istanbul.