STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV

Baku,11 September,(AzerTAj)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.