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Abdullah Gul: â€œI have tried to do my best for Azerbaijan during my political activityâ€ - EXCLUSIVE

Abdullah Gul: â€œI have tried to do my best for Azerbaijan during my political activityâ€ - <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE</font>

08 September 2008 18:08 (UTC +04:00)

When Armenian president Sargsyan invited his Turkish counterpart Abdulla Gul to Yerevan to watch football match, one of the main discussions of the regionâ€™s political agenda was the thoughts about the realization of this visit. Thus, the visit took place and Abdullah Gul paid a visit to Yerevan. The priority for media was Gulâ€™s first interview about his impressions related to this one-day visit.

-You gave information to media about your visit to Armenia. What do you want to say about your visit to Azerbaijan?

First of all I welcome all my Azerbaijani brothers. I know that they follow this visit with great interest and I want them to feel certain of us. I do believe in importance of being two states and one nation and its further continuation. When we look at the world map we see Caucasus as small place, but there are many problems in this region. We saw conflict between Georgia and Russia a month ago. It is impossible to keep silence, we should initiate and take serious measures to solve problems of our region. My visit and the visit of Prime Minister should be followed within this framework. We have proposed Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform for this purpose on time. Important countries of the region should take measures to solve issues via dialogue. Our Prime Minister Erdogan visited Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and discussed these issues. There was a random chance during the world qualifying championship. Turkish and Armenian national teams were at the same group. After this, Armenian president invited me to Yerevan. It demands courage to say to Turkish President to come and to watch the match together. We know that there occurs dashnaks and other groups, which are against this issue. Why did I receive this invitation? I believed in creation of chance to conduct discussions to solve problems in the region.
I wanted to seize this occasion for the discussion of Nagorno Karabagh conflict and problems between Turkey and Armenia. To tell the truth, I was satisfied with the realization of this visit, because state figures should measure thrice and cut once and take any decisive step afterwards. If we freeze the problem, it will be worse and worse. Then these frozen problems become de facto. Therefore, state figures should conduct discussions hardily. We all look like each other in this small land as Caucasus. The majority speaks Turkish in the region or understands this language â€“ one should move this potential ahead and find solution to the problems. During my visit, I very openly talked to president Sargsyan on these issues. I talked to him more openly about all what I am talking to you and stressed the importance of resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Sargsyan also supported solution to the problems in the region and expressed satisfaction with our participation in this process. They supported Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform, assessed it as an opportunity for the solution to the problems in the region and stressed the importance of conducting dialogue after the developments in Georgia. Sargsyan stated that he had met with Ilham Aliyev and would meet henceforth. I told Sargsyan that we should be realist. Dialogue should be conducted to overcome of the problems. If it is not conducted at present, it will be 30-40 years later and it will cause problems to the future generations. I saw that Sargsyan spoke sincerely. I left Yerevan with great pleasure. There can be those, who were against this visit in Turkey and Azerbaijan and I respect them. I am sure that these initiatives will achieve good results and they will also be happy. 50 million people died during World War II in Europe, but Germany and France are closer allies at present. We should look at the future, not only past and should open doors for the future. I will visit Baku on Wednesday and share my opinions with President Ilham Aliyev there.
-Unlike the previous president, Sargsyan started to carry on different policy. Kocharian declared Turkey as enemy, but Sargsyan shows himself as pro-Western politician. Had you consulted with the West before visiting Armenia?
I passed an independent decision. No country influenced on me in regard to my decision. However, I am pleased to receive estimation from several countries. Armenia has understood that it is obliged to cooperate with neighboring countries, as well as the whole world. Otherwise, there will not be peace in the region and Armenia can be assessed as the country standing on the way of peace. I believe in good assessment of this chance in the image of Sargsyan. Old policy should be left behind. We should look forward as regional countries.
-When you were Turkish Foreign Minister and represented Turkey in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, you always stated that stated that you carried out reforms in Turkey not for Europe, Brussels, Strasbourg, but for Turkic peoples. Today, western analysts stress the importance of deepening of democratic reforms for the solution of problems. You left a message in this direction in Armenia. Will you also give any message in Azerbaijan in this regard?
I represented Turkey in the Council of Europe for years. I remember when Heydar Aliyev demonstrated great decisiveness and made Azerbaijan become the member of the Council of Europe. Today, Honorable Ilham Aliyev continues this way. Democracy is not the process to gain within a day. Turkey has been the member of the Council of Europe since 1948 and one of the members, which established the organization. As the reforms are deepened, we are demanded new ones. Existence of democracy will require further deepening of stability in the region and cooperation between the countries and increase of welfare of peoples. The leadership of Azerbaijan will make every effort for deepening of democracy in the country not depending on my any message. I will be very satisfied with the development of democracy. And at the same time I do believe that President Ilham Aliyev will also be proud of this.
-Armeniaâ€™s â€œgenocideâ€ claims are mostly linked with pressures come from Armenian Diasporas in the West. Will you succeed to break off these pressures?
Diaspora should also work for the welfare of Armenia. The Diaspora should also be glad for Armeniaâ€™s endeavors to establish good-neighborly relations with its neighbors. I convey my best regards and respect to Azerbaijani People through APA. Let them always feel certain of us. We are always with Azerbaijan. The problem of Azerbaijan is the problem of my own and there can be no doubt about it. Thatâ€™s why I am visiting Baku.