-I wanted to be ambassador to this country. I was very glad and excited. It was my dream. Many years ago, I told my friends that I would like to be an ambassador to Azerbaijan. I was very pleased with this appointment.
-You have already started your activity. How do you feel?
-I feel calm. I am not tired. I feel at home. Azerbaijan is my Motherland.
-What projects do you plan to implement in Azerbaijan?
-We should be more active in order to improve the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey in all spheres. Much work has been done up to now, we should continue this work. There are economic and commercial relations, it is not sufficient. These relations should be improved. Measures will be taken for further development of social and cultural relations. Besides, I have personal projects. I offered to our president to establish “Friendship Parks†in Baku and regions and this initiative was welcomed. I will visit Azerbaijan’s regions. The President told me to visit the regions and be with the people. I plan to be in the regions one or two weeks each month, I will also visit the frontline regions. We have planned to organize the visits of folklore groups of Turkey and Azerbaijan and hold exhibitions. We also plan to send Azerbaijani businessmen to attend the exhibitions in Turkey. 90 have elapsed from the arrival of Caucasian Islamic Army in Azerbaijan. This is very important in terms of our common history. Caucasian Islamic Army arrived in Azerbaijan on May 27, 1918. We will hold events from May 27 till September 15 on this occasion. We have received the president’s support. My door will be open for everybody, as well as Azerbaijani and Turkish businessmen. I like to work.
-Though the two countries have high-level relations, there are some shortcomings. The peoples of the two countries do not know each other well enough. What steps can be taken to fill these gaps?
-Yes, though Azerbaijan gained its independence 17 years ago, there are some shortcomings. We will try to fill the gaps. There are no political problems, but our people should know the cultures of each other well. Azerbaijani businessmen should invest in Turkey and Turkish businessmen in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s non-oil sector should be improved.
For example, there are arrears in the agricultural field. Azerbaijan has a larger tourism capacity, which requires to be used. There are many tourism areas in the regions and Baku. For instance, “Atashgah†Temple in Baku can be turned into big shrine.
- Which Turkish football club do you support?
- I am “Fenerbahche†fan.
- They claim that Turkish Army stopped ground operations against PKK terrorists in the Northern Iraq under the US pressure. What can you say about that?
- It is a wrong estimation. Then I was in Ankara. This operation was prepared beforehand corresponding to the hard weather conditions. Turkish armed forces have reached their targets and carried out the necessary work.
- Was the term of operation clear beforehand?
- Yes, it was. The operation was planned for a short time. Turkey gained support of the entire world and operation was accepted all over the world. It shows again that Turkish Armed Forces can hit terrorist camps whenever they would like and then return back.
- Are you expecting the next operation?
- Turkish Army is keeping the region under the control and will do all necessary things. It will take steps depending on the developments in the region.
- How do you see prospects of Azerbaijan-Turkish joint operations against PKK and Armenian terror?
- The cooperation against PKK is in the desirable level. At the same time cooperation in the struggle against Armenian terror is also continuing. Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in view of the occupation of Azerbaijani lands. There is a close cooperation relating to the issue of so-called “Armenian genocideâ€. Prime Minister Rejeb Tayib Erdogan gave a necessary respond to the question of Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian on February 8, I will not repeat it. Turkish position is that. There were Azerbaijani young people expressing their readiness to take part in the Turkish operations against PKK in the Northern Iraq. They wanted to join the Turkish Army. If you remember, Turkish young people also came to fight in the Azerbaijani side in the First Karabakh War. If one nation sacrifices itself for other, it means they are brothers. It shows friendly and fraternal ties between us. By the way I am congratulating all Azerbaijani people on the occasion of upcoming Novruz Holiday. I believe that Azerbaijan will become Switzerland of the region. I wish everybody here happiness and welfare. I express gratitude to all of you, officials and media for the respect and love you showed to my predecessor Huseyn Avni Karslioglu.
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