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Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents make statements for press

11 September 2008 08:32 (UTC +04:00)

â€œOur relationship is at high level. Reciprocal visits of heads of states and governments and very active relations, of course, increase opportunities for operative reaction to the regional processes. A lot of joint projects are carried out at bilateral level. Energy and transport corridors tied Turkey and Azerbaijan are successfully functioning. All these are successful results of our joint effortsâ€.

The president said exploitation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum oil and gas pipelines enabled us to meet economic and political interests of both countries much more and emphasized that successful measures were taken in the transport sector as well. â€œAll our economic and political initiatives contribute to the cooperation, stability and peace in the region. We can state with absolute confidence that Turkeyâ€™s and Azerbaijanâ€™s policy, initiatives made in the region will create conditions for strengthening of stability today and in futureâ€.

Azerbaijani president said while discussing bilateral relations and regional situation, as well as latest developments with Abdullah Gul, they discovered once again that Turkey and Azerbaijan had same positions, interests and views. â€œIt is very important, because it strengthens traditional friendship and fraternity between the both countries and on the other hand, it is not secret that Turkeyâ€™s and Azerbaijanâ€™s role and influence in the region are increasing. It has different reasons and of course, our activity contributes to these reasons. We see very clear view of joint activity in future and I am sure that joint efforts will bring peace to the regionâ€.

The head of state stressed that Nagorno Karabakh problem moved to the forefront and long-time unresolved problem was a great threat for both Azerbaijan and the region. â€œWe want the issue to find soonest solution based on the norms of international law. Azerbaijan clearly shows its position in the international organizationsâ€.

Reminding about the positions of the United Nations and other international organizations on Nagorno Karabakh, the head of state once again said that we wanted to end this occupation. Ilham Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan was loyal to the peace process and therefore despite the talks remained without results for more than 15 years, Azerbaijan continues the process. â€œSolution of this issue should be based on the norms and principles of international law only. Azerbaijanâ€™s territorial integrity should be restored and Armenian forces should withdraw from the all occupied lands and one million Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons should return home. If we achieve it, absolutely new situation will be created in the region: cooperation, stability, new economic and political initiatives, opening the communications. In a word, peace will be established in the region and development will go more rapidlyâ€.
President said the economy of Turkey and Azerbaijan was so strong that no one could make influence on this development.
â€œBut if we can solve Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, I hope, of course all the countries will develop more rapidly. Every country will make use of it. We want this. We want peace, tranquility in the region and want all the countries in the region to establish normal relations. I reiterate that it requires will and wise steps of Armenian political leadership,â€ he said.

President said he and his Turkish counterpart thought that new leadership of Armenia would continue to make efforts for the settlement of this problem.
â€œThere are some promising factors and data. Of course, I would not like to overtake the events, but we look forward hopefully. I want to believe that we will achieve peace in the region owing to the efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries,â€ he said.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said they had discussed bilateral and regional issues and underlined that the relations between our countries were developing perfectly in all spheres. He said Turkey had always been and would continue to be with Azerbaijan in the political issues.

Turkish President expressed his hope that Nagorno Karabakh problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia would be solved through dialogue, understanding and negotiations.
â€œWe think new occasion have arisen to solve the problem lasting for 17 years. I returned from Armenia hopefully. I believe that this problem will be solved through negotiations. The solution to this problem will bring peaceful atmosphere to the region and it will mean establishment of great economic cooperation in the whole region. Oil pipelines, railways can establish network in the whole Caucasus. Thatâ€™s why one should improve the new opportunity and solve the frozen conflicts,â€ he said.