Tweet
GULL: ANY AZERBAIJANI UNEASINESS WOULD BE UNFAIR
Today's Zaman
Sept 11 2008
Turkey
Any probable uneasiness by Azerbaijan stemming from his recent visit
to Armenia would be very unfair to Turkey, which has always taken
pains to support the Azerbaijanis in their disagreements with Armenia,
President Abdullah Gul said yesterday.
Gul's remarks to reporters came on board a plane on his way to Baku for
a one-day working visit. If there is any uneasiness on the part of the
Azerbaijanis, this would be very unfair, Gul told reporters. Turkey
has been Azerbaijan's greatest supporter and Gul said, "We are two
separate parts of one nation." Gul became the first Turkish president
to set foot in Armenia since it declared independence from the Soviet
Union when he visited Yerevan to watch a World Cup qualifying game
between the national soccer teams of the two countries.
Responding to worries that the visit could sour ties between Turkey
and Azerbaijan because Armenia has been occupying Azerbaijan's
Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1993, Gul said dialogue was the best
way to resolve problems. "How can we solve our problems if we don't
talk?" he asked, noting that his meeting with Armenian President Serzh
Sarksyan was very positive. "We had the chance to discuss issues in
a transparent and honest way," he said.
Gul also rejected claims that Turkey has launched a diplomatic drive
to improve ties with Armenia under pressure from the West. "There
has been no demand from the US or European countries for me to visit
Armenia. Turkey is not a banana republic," he said.
Speaking during a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport
ahead of his departure for the Azerbaijani capital, Gul said he
would once more share his views concerning regional developments,
in the aftermath of a brief Georgian-Russian war, with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev during their meeting.
"Developments regarding our country's proposal for a Caucasus Stability
and Cooperation Platform will constitute one of the key topics on the
agenda," Gul said. Ankara's initiative to create a Caucasus platform,
called the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform, aims to bring
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and Turkey around the same table
to resolve regional disputes.
As of Monday a senior Azerbaijani official told the Azeri Press Agency
(APA) that his country would not participate in such a platform unless
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved. At the press conference,
a correspondent reminded Gul of Azerbaijani officials' distanced
attitude toward the idea of the Caucasus platform and asked the
president whether he expected to encounter in Baku a mood reflecting
their "hurt feelings."
"No, I do not expect such a thing at all," Gul said firmly in
response. "Every country has its own independent policies. Turkey
gives the strongest support to Azerbaijan on these issues. No one
should have any doubts about this," Gul added.
Today's Zaman
Sept 11 2008
Turkey
Any probable uneasiness by Azerbaijan stemming from his recent visit
to Armenia would be very unfair to Turkey, which has always taken
pains to support the Azerbaijanis in their disagreements with Armenia,
President Abdullah Gul said yesterday.
Gul's remarks to reporters came on board a plane on his way to Baku for
a one-day working visit. If there is any uneasiness on the part of the
Azerbaijanis, this would be very unfair, Gul told reporters. Turkey
has been Azerbaijan's greatest supporter and Gul said, "We are two
separate parts of one nation." Gul became the first Turkish president
to set foot in Armenia since it declared independence from the Soviet
Union when he visited Yerevan to watch a World Cup qualifying game
between the national soccer teams of the two countries.
Responding to worries that the visit could sour ties between Turkey
and Azerbaijan because Armenia has been occupying Azerbaijan's
Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1993, Gul said dialogue was the best
way to resolve problems. "How can we solve our problems if we don't
talk?" he asked, noting that his meeting with Armenian President Serzh
Sarksyan was very positive. "We had the chance to discuss issues in
a transparent and honest way," he said.
Gul also rejected claims that Turkey has launched a diplomatic drive
to improve ties with Armenia under pressure from the West. "There
has been no demand from the US or European countries for me to visit
Armenia. Turkey is not a banana republic," he said.
Speaking during a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport
ahead of his departure for the Azerbaijani capital, Gul said he
would once more share his views concerning regional developments,
in the aftermath of a brief Georgian-Russian war, with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev during their meeting.
"Developments regarding our country's proposal for a Caucasus Stability
and Cooperation Platform will constitute one of the key topics on the
agenda," Gul said. Ankara's initiative to create a Caucasus platform,
called the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform, aims to bring
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and Turkey around the same table
to resolve regional disputes.
As of Monday a senior Azerbaijani official told the Azeri Press Agency
(APA) that his country would not participate in such a platform unless
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved. At the press conference,
a correspondent reminded Gul of Azerbaijani officials' distanced
attitude toward the idea of the Caucasus platform and asked the
president whether he expected to encounter in Baku a mood reflecting
their "hurt feelings."
"No, I do not expect such a thing at all," Gul said firmly in
response. "Every country has its own independent policies. Turkey
gives the strongest support to Azerbaijan on these issues. No one
should have any doubts about this," Gul added.