ANKARA - Turkey would exert every effort for a peaceful solution of Upper Karabakh dispute, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Tuesday.
Sezer and Azerbaijani President Ilham 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.
Turkish President Sezer said that he and Aliyev discussed all dimensions of bilateral relations in their meeting.
Sezer noted that he and Aliyev searched opportunities to further improve political and economic relations and cooperation.
He and Aliyev discussed regional issues closely concerning two countries, Sezer stated.
Sezer said, ''we evaluated steps to be taken for peaceful solution of problems which cause great agony of our Azerbaijani brothers in South Caucasus, particularly the Upper Karabakh dispute. We had the opportunity to once more stress that we are ready to exert every effort for a peaceful solution of Upper Karabakh dispute in line with international law.''
He shared same views with Aliyev on settlement of peace, stability and cooperation in South Caucasus, Sezer noted.
Sezer stated that he and Aliyev also discussed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline projects in their meeting.
Turkish President Sezer expressed pleasure with the progress recorded in construction of BTC oil pipeline project and with the fact that the first oil export would be made in 2005.
Sezer said, ''our joint efforts to carry out projects closely followed by the whole world will improve existing cooperation between our countries and carry our region to a prosperous and stable future.''
Aliyev's visit would contribute to further improvement of bilateral relations and regional stability, Sezer added.
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