According to results of the meetings, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyib Erdogan held a joint news conference on September 8 after the signing ceremony of the Agreement on mutual recognition of visas between the two countries in Ankara.

Before answering the questions of journalists, the heads of governments of the two countries made statements.

STATEMENT OF PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY RECEP TAYYIB ERDOGAN

- Dear representatives of the press,

Dear journalists from Azerbaijan,

I am happy that Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, dear Ilham Aliyev is paying his first official visit on new position to Turkey. I consider this visit to be a new step in development of relations between our countries. At the same time, I would like to convey wishes of good health to the outstanding statesman, President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.

We had a tкte-а-tкte meeting followed by a broadened format meeting. We usefully shared our views on the issues related to our international and bilateral relations.

Fraternal relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan derive their strength from historical and cultural sources, common religion. We have been cooperating basing on this, as one nation, two states. Due to cooperation in all fields, developing on this fruitful basis, our bilateral relations have reached today’s high level.

The relations between our countries bring permanently results in the name of interests of our nations, all level cooperation is going on basing on aid and mutual understanding that is extremely important. Side by side with successfully continuing relationships, there is cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan in international field. Nagorno Karaakh conflict that x cannot find its just resolution for over ten years is one of the main problems of Azerbaijan.

Turkey has always supported Azerbaijan, lands of which had been invaded by Armenia. Turkey will be rendering assistance to Azerbaijan in resolution of this issue.

We are very glad that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan prpoject, one of the best evidences of wide cooperation between our countries, is being implemented as it was foreseen. Construction of the pipeline has started simultaneously in our country, Azerbaijan and Georgia and is going on with high speed. Besides, the efforts directed to implementation of the pipeline project Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum for supply of Azerbaijani natural gas to our country go on.

I would like to express satisfaction with the meeting with Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the accompanying delegation in Ankara. Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the Turkish people I would like to convey wishes of peace, security and prosperity to fraternal people of Azerbaijan.

STATEMENT OF PRIME MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV

Dear Prime Minister,

Dear representatives of press,

Today, I feel happy because I am in Turkey. After Milli Majlis approved my appointment as Prime Minister, my dear brother, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic, dear Recep Tayyib Erdogan was the first to congratulate me. I appreciate this fact and it is quite natural, because our countries are so closely tied to each other, our people feel so deep respect and love to each other, that it goes without saying. Thank you dear Prime Minister for that.

The fact that my first official visit on this post was to be paid to Turkey was natural as well. Moreover, it takes place. This nice tradition lives and will live. We have always felt and feel support and assistance of Turkey in all international organizations, on all issues. Azerbaijan, in its turn, is always next to Turkey. We are one nation, two states.

We fulfill mutually profitable cooperation in all issues of mutual interest, implement wide-range projects of special importance for the region and the whole world. If not will and persistence of Azerbaijan and Turkey, it would be difficult to fulfill such grandiose oil project as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan. We put this legend into life. Due to Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation in the region and in the world, our countries may become the most important states in international community.

The spirit of mutual understanding and fraternity was felt during discussion of all issues. We highly appreciate it.

Azerbaijan and Turkey, they have common fate. Our nations are closely bound on each other. The task of our governments’ heads is making our people closer and be useful for our countries.

I am happy to be here, Turkey is very dear for me, and I spent a definite period of my life here. I consider Turkey as second motherland. I would like to assure you that on this post and by my further activities, I would do everything for the further closeness between our countries. This is our strategic course, our policy. These are factors, strengthening our countries and bounding them more to each other. Of course, after Azerbaijan and Turkey fulfill together these important issues, wide-range economic projects, our countries will become stronger.

Economy of Azerbaijan is developing. We are very optimistic about the future. However, we are very much concerned over Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, and the fact that Azerbaijani lands are under invasion. We would like to put an end to this occupation, seeking for peaceful resolution of the issue. All the same, patience of Azerbaijani people is not unlimited. We want to sign a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan very soon with the help of international organizations.

This agreement must be signed basing on just principles. It is necessary that territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was restored, that occupational forces left our lands, that about one million of refugees and displaced people returned to homes. Peace agreement could be signed on these principles.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express gratitude to the government, state of Turkey that they have always supported Azerbaijan in this issue, helped us. Azerbaijan and Turkey are always together. We carry out and will be carrying out this policy.

Thanks against to my dear brother Recep Tayyib Erdogan for inviting me to my motherland.

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Further, Prime Ministers answered the questions of journalists.