ANKARA - There were not any problems between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev said on Tuesday.
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Aliyev, who is paying an official visit to Turkey, held a joint press conference after holding tete-a-tete meeting and chairing meeting between Turkish and Azerbaijani delegations.
Aliyev said that support extended by Ankara to Baku was once more confirmed in their today's meetings.
Bilateral relations with Turkey were improving in every field, Aliyev noted.
Aliyev recalled that Turkey was the first country which recognized Azerbaijan and said that relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey had further improved throughout years.
Positive relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan were important for not only two countries but also regional peace and stability, Aliyev stated.
Aliyev said that Turkey had always been beside Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia.
A gradual solution to Upper Karabakh dispute was adopted, Aliyev noted.
Stressing importance of improvement of economic relations, Aliyev said that economic cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan would increase once Azerbaijan's trade potential increased.
Aliyev emphasized importance of implementation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline projects for regional stability.
Prior to their joint press conference, Sezer and Aliyev signed joint statement between Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Turkish and Azerbaijani officials signed a cooperation protocol on civil aviation, cultural cooperation protocol, agreement on protection of industrial ownership, agreement on cooperation in customs, agreement on long-term economic cooperation.
Azerbaijani President Aliyev, who arrived in Turkish capital Ankara earlier in the day, visited Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, Founder of Turkish Republic, before he came to the Presidential Palace to meet with Sezer.
Prior to their meeting, Sezer welcomed Aliyev by an official ceremony.
(BRC-AY) 13.04.2004