BAKU - Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev received on Wednesday Turkey's Ambassador in Baku Unal Cevikoz.
Speaking in the meeting, Aliyev congratulated Turkey on the 80th anniversary of the Turkish Republic and said, ''this is also our day because we are one nation and two states.''
Aliyev said, ''Turkey, which was founded by Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has turned into a strong country. It has a robust position in the world and has a serious influence.''
Recalling that Turkey was the first country which recognized and supported Azerbaijan after his country declared independence, Aliyev stressed that they would never forget that.
Aliyev said that Turkish-Azerbaijani relations were very good and noted that he was sure that two countries would further improve relations in the future.
''Baku-Tbilis-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline which is important for the world economy, is being constructed. Construction of the pipeline started as a result of efforts of the two countries. Some of initiatives have been completed and a significant capital was allocated for the pipeline construction. I hope we can attend the inauguration ceremony of the pipeline at the end of the next year,'' Aliyev said.
Aliyev stated that Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas project was also being successfully implemented and there were not any problems.
Those developments showed that all problems could be solved when bilateral relations between two countries were good, Aliyev pointed out.
Aliyev added that they should continue to work for better and closer relations and friendship of two countries and nations.
Cevikoz said that bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan had improved in the last 12 years and noted, ''there is close friendship and cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan in political, economic, commercial, military and cultural fields.''
Azerbajani President Haydar Aliyev had a big role in improvement of bilateral relations, Cevikoz added.
(BRC-AÖ) 29.10.2003