Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANKARA: Erdogan: We will not leave Azerbaijan alone

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANKARA: Erdogan: We will not leave Azerbaijan alone

    Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
    March 9 2007

    Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan: We will not leave Azerbaijan alone

    Friday , 09 March 2007



    Turkish Prime Minister Recap Tayyip Erdogan interviewed by Azeri news
    source APA:

    - How do you evaluate the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan?
    What about the reality of the 'one nation, two countries?'

    Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are growing in all spheres on
    the basis of deep-rooted and culture-pushed brotherhood. One of the
    architects of these relations, the great leader Heydar Aliyev said
    Azerbaijan and Turkey are one nation in two independent states. This
    slogan came true. The world feels jealous of Azerbaijan and Turkey's
    sharing both the grief and the happiness.

    The two countries are enjoying high-level political, economic,
    military, cultural, commercial and other relations. The mutual
    confidence and joint activities strengthened and consolidated our
    relations and we created a healthy foundation for this cooperation.
    We observe that Azerbaijan's energy wealth, fast developing economy,
    effective reforms in democracy and human rights elevate it to its
    deserved summit. Implementation of Baku-Tbilissi-Ceyhan and
    Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects shoulder-to-shoulder with Brother
    Azerbaijan and Neighbor Georgia will be followed by execution of
    Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad project. Azerbaijan is very determined
    towards this issue.

    Turkey have to date favored Azerbaijani people in sad and happy days
    and will do its utmost afterwards.

    - Armenia continues to occupy 20% of Azerbaijan's territory.
    Stipulating that Armenia should withdraw from Azerbaijan's lands and
    some one million of displaced Azeri people should return to their
    native land, Turkey said it would have relations with Armenia after
    that. Armenia's giving up baseless 'genocide' and territory claim is
    one of the stipulations Turkey made. If Armenia gives up the false
    claims, can Turkey close eyes to occupation of Azerbaijan's lands and
    Karabakh conflict?

    You know what stance Turkey has taken on Armenia's aggression against
    Nagorno Karabakh and 7 neighboring regions. Within its potential,
    Turkey is giving all possible support for Azerbaijan in its fair
    fight. Turkey supports termination of the occupation violating the
    international laws. We will not leave Azerbaijan alone.

    If Armenia gives up its current policy and takes a friendly stance,
    it will take a significant step toward the normalization of the
    relation. It seems to me, this move will lead to the settlement of
    the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and improve relations between
    Azerbaijan and Armenia.

    - There are cool relations between Turkey and the European Union? Is
    it possible that the attempt to develop all-round relations with the
    Turk republics becomes the priority? In this case, how real is it to
    create Turk Common Market?

    First of all, I would say the relations between Turkey and the
    European Union are not alternative or rival to the ties between
    Turkey and other Turkic states.

    We enjoy historical, ethnic and cultural relations with Turkic
    states, and Asian geography has always been one of the priorities in
    Turkey's foreign policy. Turkey was the first to recognize the
    independence of Azerbaijan and Turkic states in Central Asia and has
    done its best to backed strengthening of their independence,
    sovereignty, territorial integrity, political-economic integration
    into the international arena, as well as their political, economic
    and military infrastructure.

    Summit of Heads of Turkish speaking countries is the platform
    bringing together the Turkish countries. The last summit held on
    November 17, 2006 in Antalya was the indicator of the importance
    Turkish speaking countries attach to the solidarity ad mutual
    understanding.

    Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines and
    Baku-Tbilisi-Kars-Akhalkalaki railway project are building up
    strategic bridge between Central Asia's Turk Republics, Azerbaijan
    and Turkey.

    These countries that celebrate the 15th anniversary of their
    independence have become the members of international community and
    took their merit places in the world. Our cooperation covered all the
    levels of our societies within these 15 years. I have no doubt that
    all sides show political will to develop the relations on the basis
    of respect, equality and common advantage.
    APA
Working...
X