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Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic: â€œEveryone in Turkey, from the child to adult, from the politician to trader, tries to help the Somali peopleâ€

16 August 2011 13:22 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov- APA. APA correspondent interviewed with Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic

- Mr. Ambassador, Turkey has started aid campaign to Somalia since first days of famine disaster in this country. How is this campaign coming along?

- Turkey always takes active part in the prevention and elimination of emergency situations. Turkish people closely work with the countries facing such problems. We saw it in the past too. Turkey assisted Indonesia during the tsunami disaster and it also assisted Pakistan, when it suffered from the earthquake. The situation is very hard in Somalia. The people, especially children die from the starvation there. The famine disaster in Somalia coincided with the holy month of Ramadan and therefore everyone in Turkey, from the child to adult, from the politician to trader, tries to help the Somali people. Turkish Red Crescent Society organized series of aid campaigns to Somalia. Those countries, which sucked out the resources and wealth of Somalia at one time, kept silence when the question is about helping this country. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu together with their wives will visit Somalia on August 18 to see the situation there.

Today various aid campaigns were organized for Somali people, who are suffering from famine. Mobile hospitals were opened in the refugee camps and the places, where the situation is critic.

- What measures is your embassy in Baku taking in this direction?

- Our embassy together with TUSIAB called on the Turkish businessmen working in Azerbaijan to join the aid campaign. There are accounts in Ziraat Bank and Yapi Kredi Bank. We transfer the donations collected there to the Turkish Red Crescent Society. We launched other aid campaigns too. On August 22, we will organize iftar dinner for the businessmen. 70-80 people were invited to iftar dinner and we will collect donations to send to Somalia. I see serious attention to these campaigns in Azerbaijan. We receive phone calls, our Azerbaijani brothers offer their assistance. Our embassy collects these aids and delivers to its destination. I thank everyone who participates in this campaign.

- Turkey increases efforts for solution of the problems of Muslim countries, Nagorno Karabakh, Palestinian, Syrian and Libyan problems. Can Ankara undertake the reconciliatory mission toward restoration of public order in Somalia?

- Turkey is a regional power and we think to use our force for peace and cooperation, for humanity. We want Somalia to solve its domestic problems soon and we are ready to make all efforts for that. Nagorno Karabakh is the problem number one in the region. If there is no peace, there is no development. We want the Caucasian region to be developed and became stable and Armenia to take its share in this stability. But unfair situation still dominates here. Turkey pursues a policy: peace in the country and peace in the world. We inherited this mission from Ataturk. We try to provide our neighbors with all assistances.

- How much donation has been collected in Turkey for Somalia since the start of the campaign?

- As far as I know this figure is changing. As of yesterday, it was $100 million. UN officials say $150 million is needed to eliminate the crisis. Our aid will increase.

- On August 17, foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference will hold a meeting in Istanbul concerning the situation in Somalia. What can you say about it?

- We invited foreign ministers of the OIC member states to the meeting of the extraordinary committee. The emergency situation in Somalia will be discussed at the conference that will be chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Azerbaijanâ€™s representatives will also attend the conference.

- How does Turkey see its role in the further development of Somalia?

- We want the civil war to end in Somalia. Famine and drought may be observed next year. But we want to see Somalia as a country standing on its own bottom, having its economy, providing itself with food. We want to give support for its development at the cost of its sources. Turkey calls on the world to help Somalia. This crisis is the problem of the mankind. Everybody should help it. By solving this problem together we will help the mankind.

- The situation on Turkey-Syria border is not good. A lot of Syrians have taken shelter in Turkey. What steps is Turkey taking to solve this problem?

- As you know, our Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Damascus last week. He had discussions with Syrian officials for six hours. We call Syria neighbor. But we also have kinship relations. I will mention one fact. On the holidays of Eid-al-Adha and Ramadan the people of the two countries cross the border and visit one another. We share 850 km border, have 6 checkpoints. I had been Consul General to Aleppo. I know this country very well. Our Prime Minister is right when he says â€œSyriaâ€™s problems are our problemsâ€. About 10 million people have kinship. The fire at our neighborâ€™s affects us, too. 15 000 people have taken shelter in Turkey due to the happenings in Syria. This is already our problem. We expect the happenings in Syria to end and democratic steps to be taken. 1800 people have died in Syria. It may rise and the situation causes concern.

- What new is expected in Azerbaijan-Turkey relations?

- Mutual visits will be paid on the ministerial level after the month of Ramadan. Moreover, the two countries are expected to sign a gas agreement in mid-September. The meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council will be held in October or November. More high-level visits are expected.