STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV
As earlier reported, on completion of visit of the Turkish President to Baku, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Abdullah Gul of Turkey made joint statement for media.
President of Azerbaijan, in particular, said:
“Esteemed Mr. President,
Dear brother,
Dear guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today we receive in Azerbaijan President of Turkey Abdullah Gul. You are welcome.
This visit let us once again discuss all aspects of bilateral relations and make decision for further joint activity. Our relations are high-level. Reciprocal visits of the heads of state and governments, dynamic contacts, perhaps, widen opportunities to appropriately react to the ongoing processes in region. In bilateral format we realize many joint projects. Successfully functioning are the energy and transport corridors connecting Turkey and Azerbaijan. All this is successful events being realized thanks to our joint effort.
Today as a result of operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas main both countries significantly provide their economic and political interests. Successfully are realized the steps undertaken by us in the transport sector, and the project connecting Turkey and Azerbaijan via the railway. Cooperation in the field of energy, transport and other spheres don’t profit only our countries and nations, but also have very positive impact on the processes ongoing in region. All our economic and political initiatives serve establishment of cooperation, stability and peace in region. And from this standpoint, we can confidently say that in the whole the policy of Turkey and Azerbaijan, made initiatives today and in the coming years will create new environment for further strengthening this stability.
In a word, discussing today with the esteemed President our bilateral questions, the current situation and happenings in region, we once again made certain that out positions are alike, our interests are the same and we have similar visions at the happenings. This is very important as it much more intensifies traditional friendly and fraternal relations between the two countries. It is, on the other hand, not secret that the role and opportunities of Turkey and Azerbaijan in region grow. There are numerous prerequisites for this, in occurrence of which our activity has, of course, not less importance. Thus, we see open and clear panorama of our further joint activity, and I am convinced that thanks to our joint efforts we’ll reach establishment of peace in region.
Settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict is, too, pushed to forefront. Delay of settlement of the problem is the source of great jeopardy both for Azerbaijan and the region. WE wish that the problem be solved quickly and on the basis of international legal principles. Azerbaijan on all organization openly states its position. As you know, the UN Security Council’s Four Resolutions state the demands concerning withdrawal of the armed forces of Armenia from the occupied lands. The Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly, is also very positive step in this direction. Also are the decisions of other international organizations.
We want that this occupation was put an end. We want to solve the question peacefully. And therefore, despite the 15-years long unsuccessful negotiations, we, as earlier, adhere to peaceful settlement. But, it is clear that settlement of the problem should exclusively base on the norms and principles of international law. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan should be restored, the armed forces of Armenia withdrawn from the occupied lands, and one million of refugees and IDPs return to their homelands.
Thus, should we reach this, then, completely a new situation will occur in region: cooperation, stability, and new economic and political initiatives, open communications. In short, in region, peace will be secured, and development will go faster.
To tell the truth, today, economy of Turkey and Azerbaijan is so strong that nothing is able to impede our successful progress. And if we shall solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict - I am hopeful for - then, of course, development of all countries will speed up. Each country will benefit of it. We stand for this. We aspire that in region there was maintained peace, tranquility and all countries of region could establish civil contacts with each other. I restate: to do this, we merely need the will and wise steps of the political leaders of Armenia.
And, I and esteemed Abdullah Gul, adhere the opinion that the new leadership of Armenia will continue efforts to solve the problem. There are positive and certain factors, and hopeful information. Evidently, I would not take the lead over the happenings, but we look to future with growing optimism. I would believe that thanks to the efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries we shall achieve establishment of peace in region.
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