OFFICIAL NEWS
TURKISH PRESIDENT GUL DELIVERS SPEECH AT AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT
After his meeting with the Speaker and deputies, Turkish President Abdullah Gul delivered a speech at the parliament on the second day of his visit on Wednesday.
During his speech, President Gul emphasized that the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan had a rich texture in many areas like politics, economy, diplomacy, commerce, education, culture, and communications.
Gul noted that what gave its unique structures to relations between the two countries was commonness in language, common history and religion: “And these factors differ our relations from the relations with other countries.”
Turkish President regarded the relations between the two countries as brotherhood and said the terms used to define international relations like ‘interests, benefit and balance of power’ failed to represent it.
“In brotherhood, there are no interests, no enmities. We want the existence of our nation to inspire confidence in Azeri Turks,” said Mr. Gul.
President Gul praised the sincere efforts of Azerbaijan in enhancing its democratic structure and raising the human rights standards for its people.
Commenting on the pipeline projects that are carried out jointly by Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Gul said these projects contributed to peace and stability in the region and global energy security.
President Gul who pointed out that the Caspian Basin would transform into the most important section of the East-West energy corridors once the Trans-Caspian Pipeline Project is actualized between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
Abdullah Gul said Turkey and Azerbaijan cooperated in remarkable regional projects and added that there were other big projects to be carried out by the two countries in the near future.
Turkish President spoke about the important role of regional projects - Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.
Commenting on the problematic relations of Armenia with Turkey and Azerbaijan, the Turkish President said “the whole world should see that the main reasons of the current problems are Armenia’s unfriendly attitude towards Turkey and its invasion the territory of Azerbaijan”.
“I don’t think Turkey is responsible for the way things are at this point. I can’t say that we are pleased with the situation,” said President Gul.
He also said no developments should be expected regarding the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia, as long as Armenia continued to carry out its allegations on the incidents of 1915 to the parliaments of other countries for discussions.