POLITICS
FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS CHAIRMAN OF TURKEY’S INDUSTRIALIST ASSOCIATIONS
Mr. Bozgurd noted his structure had been founded 10 years ago, and updated the Minister on a number of activities to foster economic development of Azerbaijan. He announced that TUSIAB is taking important measures aimed at ensuring psychological readiness of Turkish businessmen for making investments in Azerbaijan, opening new jobs and rendering aid to refugees and internally displaced people. Stressing that the Association is endeavoring to help the country not only in solving economic but also political problems, the TUSIAB Chairman especially noted that as a token of protest against Turkey’s alleged opening borders with Armenia, the Association had sent a letter to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov mentioned that the meeting had timed to the 81st birthday of nationwide leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, and told of the invaluable services of the outstanding person for creation and strengthening friendly and brotherly relationship and strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The Minister noted that since gaining independence, our country has been following the path of free market economy and democratic reforms that had created very favorable conditions for activities of local and foreign businessmen. Pointing out the importance of several projects for further development of our country, Mr. Mammadyarov stressed the necessity for the Turkish businessmen to support opening Kars - Tbilisi, and Kars-Nakhchivan railway communication.
Mr. Hamid Bozgurd stated he paid great attention to this problem and expressed hope for opening Nakhchivan-Erzurum-Stanbul air route, and emphasized the importance of bringing the number of flights between Turkey and Nakhchivan to two per week.
Having expressed confidence that the issue will be considered, the Minister said Azerbaijan would do its best for development of links between the two countries.
Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.