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Azerbaijani ambassador to Turkey Zakir Hashimov: I am sure Turkish parliament will recognize Khojali genocide

14 November 2006 13:41 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijani Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary ambassador to Turkey Zakir Hashimovâ€™s exclusive interview to the APA

- How would you estimate Azerbaijani-Turkish relations?
- As you know, Azerbaijan has no problems with Turkey in bilateral relations. Turkey supports our country both in the international world and neighborhood policy. Turkey is at the same time the greatest strategic ally of Azerbaijan. The commission of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline is a proof of it. The future projects â€“ Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalak railway line â€“ are the result of development of the relations between our countries by Ilham Aliyev. Our embassy also does its best in this direction.
- Summit of Turkish Countries will be held on November 17 in Antalya. President Ilham Aliyev is also invited to the summit. How are the preparations for the summit and Presidentâ€™s visit?
- As you know, in such assemblies the participant countries make statement altogether, their foreign policy and attitude to the most problems in the world policy is reflected in the statement. In connection with it, the meetings on the level of Foreign Ministries of the participant countries were held and an initial agreement on the draft reflecting the position of Azerbaijan was reached.
- The officials of both countries state that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey does not reflect the current potential. The trade turnover is expected to reach $1bn. What steps are taken in this direction?
- Turkey is one of the trade partners of Azerbaijan. Despite the trade turnover between the two countries does not meet the current potential in this sphere, gradual increase of the trade turnover has been observed recently. The agreement â€œLong-lasting economic partnership between Azerbaijani and Turkish governmentsâ€? implies the increase of the trade turnover to $1bn.
- The visa period of the Azerbaijani citizens causes some problems. Do you hold any negotiations for the application of the permanent visa between the countries?
- The visa given by the authoritative body of any country has a certain period. Negotiations for the application of the regime without visa can be held between the two countries. These kinds of negotiations should be held on the level of governments, not embassies.
- President Ilham Aliyev made a proposal about the joint activity of Turkish and Azerbaijani Diasporas. What steps has the embassy taken for the realization of this proposal after the assembly in Antalya?
- Concerning Ilham Aliyevâ€™s proposal about the joint activity of Turkish and Azerbaijani Diasporas the embassy employees together with the employees of the State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis living abroad participated in the discussions organized with the Turkish side. Besides we gave the representatives of the committee information about the features of the Diaspora policy in Turkey.
- How do you estimate the idea of the establishment of unique Azerbaijani Diaspora federation in Turkey? It is known that there are a number of Azerbaijani organizations, circles and societies in Turkey. But there are some problems among them. Besides the relations of these organizations with our embassy are not good. What steps are going to take to remove this problem?
- It is necessary to establish Azerbaijani Diaspora in Turkey in order to support Azerbaijanis interests living permanently and temporarily in Turkey, to propagate Azerbaijani political trend, economic potential, to get support from Turkey concerning Nagorno Garabagh conflict. But the different viewpoints on the political processes of the Azerbaijanis living in Turkey show that the process of joining will be difficult. The embassy employees held meetings in October, in order to investigate the possibility of joining the organizations in Ankara. The embassy is working in the direction of joining the Diaspora.
- Some political and economic forces in Turkey insist on the opening of borders with Armenia. How do you estimate it?
- We reprobate the powers that want the opening of the borders in order to establish economic relations with Armenia. Turkey announced that unless Armenia accepts to release the occupied Azerbaijani territories, to give up claims on Armenian genocide and to recognize Turkeyâ€™s territorial integrity the opening of borders is unacceptable. We highly appreciate the unanimous position of the Turkish government.
- What are the reasons of delay of recognition of Khojali genocide by Turkey? What does the embassy do for the discussion of this problem in Turkish Parliament?
- Turkey has announced many times that Khojali genocide is one of the most terrible events of the XX century. Turkish political figures said Turkey shares Azerbaijanâ€™s grief. Ankaraâ€™s Kechioren municipality has officially recognized Khojali genocide, erected a monument to Khojali genocide. The parliamentarians spoke of the necessity of the recognition of Khojali genocide by Turkish Parliament. The embassy is sure that Turkish parliament will recognize Khojali genocide.
- Gars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway project delays. What is it connected with? Does Turkey have role in this delay?
- Azerbaijani, Turkish and Georgian governments have stated their political will on the realization of Gars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway project. Turkey is ready to begin the realization of the project in 2007. After the talks on some technical points the execution of the project will start.
- What steps are planned for the development of military partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkey?
- Our plans in this sphere include the education in different military training centers; increase of the number of officers in order to improve the professionalism, measures in the sphere of material-technical supply between the Armed Forces of the two countries.
- Governmental and nongovernmental organizations of both countries made a proposal about opening tourism route â€œForefathersâ€™ triumphâ€?. This proposal was discussed twice but no concrete decision was made. What are your plans on the realization of new tourism projects?
- A number of initiatives are shown in many spheres, as well as in tourism between Azerbaijan and Turkey. These are realized by governmental, nongovernmental, social, private and other organizations.
- There is information that Azerbaijanis studying in Turkey fall under influences by different groups especially religious organizations and there are radical chauvinists and members of PKK among them. What does the embassy plan to do in connection with it?
- Statistics shows that 1000 Azerbaijani students study in Ankara. The reason why they fall under influences of religious organizations is not their belief, but material difficulties. Therefore it is necessary for the students to get scholarship. As to the students joining PKK we have no such information. We take interest in the studentsâ€™ problems. The embassy holds regular meetings in the studentsâ€™ hostel in order to get acquainted with their problems and living conditions. /APA/