POLITICS
AZERI, TURKISH TOP DIPLOMATS BRIEF JOURNALISTS ON OUTCOMES OF THEIR MEETING
Ankara, December 26 (AZERTAC). Foreign minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu held Friday a joint press conference following an one-on-one meeting.
Davutoglu said they discussed prospects for relations between the two “fraternal countries” in various spheres. He said an agreement was achieved on holding a meeting of Turkey-Azerbaijan joint economic commission in Baku early next year. “Turkish state minister Zafer Chaglayan will visit Azerbaijan in the near future to discuss bilateral economic cooperation,” he added.
According to Davutoglu, the discussion mainly focused on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Minsk Group`s mediation efforts in the process. He underlined liberation of Azerbaijan`s territories from occupation will play a significant role in normalization of Turkey-Armenia relationship.
“Now, we are close to peace in the region, and we should use this opportunity.”
The Turkish minister underlined his country will not ratify protocols signed with Armenia if the latter does not withdraw from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. “This is official position of Ankara,” he added.
Davutoglu said they also touched upon international issues, including energy cooperation. “Turkey and Azerbaijan will share a common position in Eurasia from strategic point of view,” the minister underlined.
Mammadyarov, in turn, described relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey as “high-level”. He noted the forthcoming meeting of Turkey-Azerbaijan joint economic commission in Baku will create an opportunity to exchange views on prospects for bilateral cooperation.
Mammadyarov noted “our negotiations on gas issue are underway.” “We believe that our countries will successfully continue energy transport cooperation.”
On the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he said the major obstacle to stability and economic development in the region is the fact that 20 percent of Azerbaijan`s territories is under Armenian occupation. “As long as Armenia does not quit Azerbaijan`s occupied lands, peace and security will be impossible.”
“We want Turkey, as a powerful nation, to contribute to increasing the international community`s awareness about the dispute,” he underlined, adding “we also believe that this issue will be resolved soon.”
Mammadyarov pointed out Turkey and Azerbaijan share the same position on the ongoing processes in the world.
He pointed out an agreement on elimination of visa regime between the two countries were not signed due to some unresolved legal issues.
Prior to the meeting, minister Mammadyarov together with his counterpart Davutoglu visited the Heydar Aliyev Park in Batikent district of Ankara to put flowers at the national leader`s monument.
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