Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev received the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Turkey to Azerbaijan Mr. Ahmad Unal Chevigoz, 16 October.

Extending his congratulations to the Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev on confident victory at the 15 October 2003 Presidential elections, Mr. Ahmad Unal Chevigoz said:

“ Mr. Prime Minister, at the moment, I am excited and very proud. However, the conclusions of the yesterday-held elections have not been officially announced, according to unofficial information, You have garnered the highest votes and been elected as President of Azerbaijan.

The relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have always been developed on fraternal ground. As the continuation of the esteemed President Heydar Aliyev’s policy, I think and express my confidence that, after taking the President Office, You will succeed development of the relations between the two countries.

I know that our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has congratulated You by phone. In my turn, on behalf of our esteemed President, esteemed Prime Minister and esteemed foreign minister, I would like to extend my congratulations to You once again. Stability and development established in Azerbaijan in the last decade, indeed, made Your Country a twinkling star in the Caucasus, and led to a distinctive point among the young, dynamic and newly gained independence countries of the European family. With these feelings, I have brought my congratulations to You. At the same time, I express my concern for the actions that led to destabilization in the City and I am confident these actions will quickly be prevented. I believe in Your will and ability of the state structures of Azerbaijan to ensure stability in the country. Duration of stability and the political course pursued in Azerbaijan is, indeed, of great significance.

I express my gratitude for reception and express once again my congratulations”.

Expressing his gratitude to the Ambassador for his cordial words, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev said:

“Mr. Ambassador, thank you very much. I am grateful to you. As you noted, Mr. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a call today and congratulated me. This once again points that the friendly and fraternal relations between our countries go ahead and develop. You know that esteemed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also first who congratulated me after my appointment to the post of Prime Minister. He invited me to Turkey and of course, as a prime Minister I made my first visit to the fraternal country. This tradition lives in Azerbaijan and will live further. Taking the opportunity, I would request You to convey my deep gratitude to the esteemed President, esteemed Prime Minister and esteemed foreign minister for congratulations.

The friendly and fraternal relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are at high level. The policy pursued by Heydar Aliyev in the last decade in our country yields its fruits. I am very pleased that mutual relations of our countries play a leading role in social life of both Turkey and Azerbaijan. I will further try to expand these relations, and make closer these two fraternal countries. Our esteemed President has several times stated: “We are one nation, two states”. This is true, indeed. In my turn, I will make every effort to bring closer this nation.

I express once again my gratitude to the President and Prime Minister of fraternal Turkey for warm reception during my visit. This, once again evidences that our friendly and fraternal relations will further continue. The official guest I meet today is also the ambassador of Turkey. I have several times stated that I will adhere the political course of Heydar Aliyev, and continue his policy. I assure you that the relations between our countries will further go ahead. Azerbaijan will worthily implement its duties in this field.

In the course of meeting, the parties had a comprehensive exchange of views on a number of other issues related to the Azerbaijan-Turkey relations.