President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received at the Presidential palace a delegation led by Chairman of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations /ATAA/ Mr. Ercument Kilic, June 9.

Sincerely greeting the guests, the Head of State Ilham Aliyev noted in particular that the Assembly of Turkish American Associations has a great prestige, and plays an important role in development of the Turkey-US relationship. We are closely watching your activities and pleased at you achievements, he said.

The President pointed out active participation of Azerbaijani delegation in the Assembly’s January 2004 Congress, and expressed satisfaction with development of Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the organization. He also mentioned activity of the State Committee for Working with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, which had been founded at the initiative of nation-wide leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev.

As you know, Turkey-Azerbaijan relationship has always been very friendly, we are brotherly countries, President Ilham Aliyev stressed. He noted that Turkey had been the first country to recognize Azerbaijan after re-gaining the state independence, and that relations between the two states had been brought up to very high level since then.

These relations have brought great benefit to both peoples; Turkey and Azerbaijan are implementing large-scale economic projects in the region, and we have always supported each other in the international organizations, the Head of State said.

President Ilham Aliyev also pointed to high-level relationship between Azerbaijan and the United States both in political, economic and other spheres. He described Azerbaijan as very reliable partner of the United States. For the last decade, he said, we showed more than once our adherence to this policy not only by issuing statements but also by taking practical steps, the President emphasized.

The Head of State noted with great satisfaction the recent formation of the US-Azerbaijan working group in the United Sates Congress, and the importance of dissemination of truthful information about Azerbaijan among the Congressmen. Despite the US President’s waiver of the unfair Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act regarding Azerbaijan, the President said, it still remains in force. He described the Section 907 as one of the results of the great job Armenian lobby in the United States is doing against Azerbaijan.

We are trying to settle peacefully the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, President Ilham Aliyev continued, but unfortunately, there is no result yet. Everyone should be aware, and the American public in particular, that exactly Azerbaijan is a victim of the conflict; it is our land that is under occupation, and over one million of our people have become IDPs and refugees from the conflict; what we want is observance of the international legal norms, and as its reflection - withdrawal of the Armenian occupation forces from our lands and restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev concluded.

Having thanked the Head of State for the sincere meeting, ATAA Chairman, Mr. Ercument Kilic noted that it is a great honor for him to meet the President of Azerbaijan.

The guest expressed his great satisfaction with the positive changes occurred in Azerbaijan for the past years, among which he called new airport, hotels etc. He also pointed out the evident achievements of the country in the spheres of democracy development, transition to market economy, as well as its participation in the international peacemaking operations that according to him, is widely propagandized in the United States.

Having stressed the good relations established recently with American parliamentarians, Mr. Ercument Kilic noted that members of his organization are actively involved in clarifying the situation with respect to Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. He said Karabakh is a common wound, and on behalf of the 300 thousand American Turks and 20 thousand Assembly members assured President Ilham Aliyev that they would do their best to achieve the goal.

In conclusion, the ATAA Chairman extended to the Azerbaijan President best wishes for every success in his activity.

Present at the meeting was Chairman of the State Committee on Working with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad Nazim Ibrahimov.