PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND TURKMENISTAN MAKE JOINT PRESS STATEMENTS
Following the ceremony of signing Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan documents, Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov of Turkmenistan made statements for mass media outlets on Monday.
“We have discussed bilateral cooperation, prospects of its development, regional issues, strengthening of security system in the region. Our positions totally coincide on all issues,” said President Ilham Aliyev in his statement.
“I think that this historical visit opens up a qualitatively new chapter in bilateral relations. We witness rapid development of our bilateral relations,” said the Azerbaijani Leader.
“We have today discussed issues concerning transportation problems and defined concrete ways of solving these questions, which will make our countries even closer and contribute to creation of the good transport infrastructure in our region. We have also discussed energy cooperation.
The Caspian problem was one we have discussed today. We touched upon the Teheran summit of Caspian nations and future ways of cooperation in the Caspian region. We are sure that effective interaction between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan will contribute to resolution of the problem,” said the President.
“I am pleased to note that political dialogue between our states has dramatically intensified recently,” said Turkmen Leader in his statement.
“Creation of the Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission suggests that our two countries intend to make traditional cooperation more fruitful and constructive. Although it has been set up recently, the sides managed to develop the efficient mechanism of realizing our mutual interests. The first meeting of the commission helped resolve financial and other important questions that impeded development of our partner relationships,” said Berdymuhammedov.
“Trade turnover between the two countries is steadily rising. It has tripled in recent years. Nevertheless, this figure falls short of the existing huge potential of cooperation,” Turkmen leader said, adding that the countries mostly cooperate in the energy sector. According to him, both sides agreed to hold the conference “Oil and gas of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan” in Baku in September this year in order to study the opportunities for cooperation.
Turkmen President also touched upon bilateral cooperation in the field of transportation. He noted that Turkmenistan pays a special attention to its transport infrastructure.
“In association with our Kazakh and Iranian partners we have embarked on the North-South transportation corridor project, and I know that the similar construction is underway in Azerbaijan as well,” said the President.
On the trade and economic ties, the Turkmen Leader said that Turkmenistan is ready to export its textile and chemical goods, which are produced in the factories equipped with the up-to-date equipment.
“The resolution of the Caspian problem is based on the need to make the Caspian region the zone of peace, good neighborhood, stability and mutually beneficial cooperation,” noted President Berdymuhammedov. He found a need to continue constructive talks to coordinate the positions of the five littoral states towards the Caspian legal status.
“The activity of the ad hoc group at the level of foreign ministers of Caspian nations is quite important. We consider the soonest defining of the status of the Caspian Sea will allow to create favorable conditions for effective development of hydrocarbon and biological resources, protection and conservation of unique ecological system of the Caspian Basin, and active international cooperation in the Caspian region,” the Head of Turkmen State added.
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