PARTICIPANTS OF THE FORUM ON “TURKISH-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS IN XXI CENTURY”
I cordially welcome all of you, who gathered in the city of Ankara to support development of the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, and wish success to work of the Forum.
I would especially stress the importance of conducting the Forum in Turkey that connects two continents, with a world prestige and great economic, political and cultural potential.
There has been always deep love for the state of Turkey in Azerbaijan, for its patriotic, heroic and industrious people, particular attention was attached to the relations with it. And Turkey’s love for Azerbaijan, beginning from Ataturk, has developed and today acquiring a high level and real content, became a practical cooperation, and as a result, firm and uninfringeable fraternal bridge was built between our peoples and states.
In the past ten years, heads of state of both Turkey and Azerbaijan have done a lot to strengthen our mutual links, bring closer and promote fraternity of our peoples. It is pleased that this tendency, along with the state bodies and official structures, was joined by public representatives of the two countries, the leading businessmen, intelligentsia and simple citizens.
State of Azerbaijan, under the leadership of the nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev, despite all the obstacles, have concluded with Turkey and is realizing such agreements and projects on economic development of the country, integration to the West, development of the Caspian hydrocarbons and transportation to the world market, realization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Ersurum gas pipelines, restoration and operation of the Europe-Asia transport corridor named as Great “Silk Road”, creation of energy exchange in the region and others.
Besides, in Azerbaijan, the Turkish businessmen have been involved in realization of all the large projects in the field of construction, transport, service, and they were provided with all conditions.
We will further take all opportunities to promote economic development of the fraternal Turkish state and Turkish people, its social welfare and good life. I deem that the state and people of Turkey, as earlier, also will continue its assistance to solve the existent problems of Azerbaijan, in particular, in provision of its violated territorial integrity and security. I am convinced that the relations between the two fraternal countries will acquire larger extent in the coming years of XXI century.
The present Forum, joined by the influential statesmen, parliamentarians, renowned men of science and culture, intelligentsia, leading businessmen, will also have positive impact on development of the friendly and fraternal relations between our peoples and states. I would like to express my confidence that the Forum will study the existing economic, political ands cultural ties between our countries, make significant suggestions for further development of our cooperation in all fields.
Once again, I extend greetings of the people and government of Azerbaijan to the participants of the Forum, and wish success to its work.
Ilham Aliyev,
President of Azerbaijan Republic
City of Baku, 8 December 2003
Other news in this section
