IZMIR - Azerbaijani State Minister for Azerbaijani people living abroad Nazim Ibrahimov said on Thursday, ''we are one nation with Turkey and two separate states.''
Ibrahimov, who arrived in Izmir to attend ''Activities for Birthday of Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and for the 85th foundation anniversary of Azerbaijani People's Republic'' held by Azerbaijani businessmen between May 30 and June 2, visited Izmir Governor Yusuf Ziya Goksu.
Noting that he liked Izmir, Ibrahimov said that there were many similar things between Azerbaijani capital Baku and Izmir.
Ibrahimov said that Turkey and Azerbaijan were one nation and two separate states and added that Azerbaijani Turks living in other parts of the world would come together in Izmir for two days. He said that Azerbaijani Turks living in Europe and the United States should know that Turkey was real country of Azerbaijani people.
Goksu said that nearly 500 thousand Azerbaijani Turks were living in Turkey and he recalled that Izmir and Baku were ''brother cities''.
(GC-ÖS) 29.05.2003