STATEMENT BY AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV
Distinguished Prime Minister of Turkey, my dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Media representatives,
I once again welcome the Prime Minister of Turkey and all the members of his delegation to Nakhchivan, the ancient land of Azerbaijan.
We meet with the esteemed Prime Minister in a regular manner in Baku, Ankara, Istanbul and other places. But this is the first time that our meeting is taking place in Nakhchivan. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for finding time to arrive in Nakhchivan. It is of great political significance. Nakhchivan is the only place, city and republic, where Azerbaijan has a land border with Turkey. The ties with Turkey, construction of the bridge and, in general, the Turkey’s support, have played a very important role in the development of Nakhchivan, especially, in surviving the crisis it was facing in early 1990s. At the present, relations between our countries are developing rapidly in all fields. Today, we have discussed full range of bilateral issues, and we share a common position on all of them. We enjoy progressing political relations, growing economic capabilities, and together, we are realizing the globally important energy projects, which make our countries considerably stronger.
Today, we have also talked, exchanged views on the work being done to settle the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and on the plans for the future. Turkey’s stance on the problems is very important to us. Turkey’s support of the United Nations General Assembly’s latest resolution on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan was of particular importance.
We have also widely discussed our further activities and joint projects. Such grand projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars are bringing us even closer to each other. These projects are of huge importance for the whole Turkish world because other Turkish-speaking states could take effective use of them too; provisional agreements on that have already been reached. We are open for broad cooperation in both energy and transport projects. Our relations also contribute greatly to the regional cooperation. Neither a single project nor a single initiative can be realized in the region without involvement of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Of course, we should use these opportunities more effectively. Today, a new phase of mutual investment begins. Azerbaijani companies are already making investments in the Turkey’s industry, infrastructure. It is very important to us as the brotherly country is one the Azerbaijani companies make the largest investments in, and it is natural. Our countries’ growing economic and political capabilities, their growing weight, will of course strengthen our positions in the future.
All the issues we have touched upon today make us very happy and open new opportunities. Specifically, taking necessary measures towards ensuring energy security of Nakhchivan and ending its blockade will widen the opportunities to ensure long-term development of the autonomous republic. This is what we have talked about.
In other words, I am very satisfied with the talks, and would like to say once again that our views coincide on all the issues we have discussed. And I am convinced that this historic visit of the Turkey’s Prime Minister to Nakhchivan will open new opportunities and horizons.
Thank you.
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