TURKISH PM ADDRESSES AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT

Anadolu Agency
May 13 2009
Turkey

BAKU (A.A) – 13.05.2009 – Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
on Wednesday that protecting each other’s rights in the international
arena was a major goal for both Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Addressing the Azerbaijani parliament, Erdogan said that Turkey
was the first country that recognized Azerbaijan’s independence and
the relations between the two countries improved continuously since
that date.

Erdogan said that Turkey and Azerbaijan cooperated with each other
in order to establish peace, security, prosperity and stability in
their region.

He said the energy and transportation projects carried out jointly
by the two countries were of great importance in that sense.

Erdogan also said that some circles tried to overshadow the friendly
relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan through speculative and wrong
news about Turkey’s stance towards the Karabakh issue.

"It is shameful to allege that Turkey has given up Karabakh," Erdogan
said, adding that he made several statements in an effort to deny
such allegations.

Commenting on Turkish-Armenian relations as well, Erdogan said that
the border gate between the two countries was closed when Armenia
invaded Upper Karabakh.

"When this situation is over, gates can be opened. We cannot take any
steps without reaching an agreement with our Azerbaijani brothers,"
he said.

Pointing to the importance of the Caucasus region, Erdogan said
Turkey’s stance regarding the region and the solution of the problems
in the region were no different than Azerbaijan’s approach to the
issue.

Noting that the situation in Upper Karabakh was currently the most
important problem in the region, Erdogan said Turkey desired such
issue to be solved in a peaceful way respecting the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress