Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 23 2009

Azeri envoy confirms strong relations with Turkey

Ankara, 23 April: Azerbaijan’s ambassador in Ankara, Zakir Hashimov,
said [on] Thursday [23 April] Turkey and Azerbaijan share relations
based on the idea of "two states and one nation".

Speaking at the 23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day
reception held at the Turkish parliament, Ambassador Hashimov said,
"Could there be a crisis between two brotherly countries?".

Answering questions of journalists, Hashimov said that "as an
independent state, Turkey has the right to establish bilateral
relations with any country it wishes. However, Turkey-Armenia
relations should be parallel to the developments taking place in Upper
Karabakh".

"President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made
assurances to us in this direction," Hashimov said.

Reminding the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk that "Azerbaijan’s
happiness is our happiness" and the words of late Azerbaijani
President Heydar Aliyev that "Turkey and Azerbaijan are two states of
one nation", Ambassador Hashimov said that Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations can not go out of such principles and no one can disturb
such principles.

Stressing that windows between Turkey and Azerbaijan are open,
Hashimov said that the Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev will
pay a visit to Turkey on Friday.

"President Gul and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had a positive
phone conversation today (Thursday)," Hashimov said.

Asked about when Azerbaijan will accept the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian border, Hashimov said that Armenia must withdraw from
five towns out of seven and Azerbaijani refugees must go back to their
homes in these territories. "Only then will Azerbaijan accept the
opening of the Turkish-Armenian border".

Armenian troops must also withdraw from the remaining two towns and
Upper Karabakh and Azerbaijani refugees must be able to go back to
their homes in these regions, Hashimov said.

We can then discuss the status, Hashimov also said.