Turkey And Azerbaijan Express Pleasure With Continuation Of Strategic Cooperation

ANKARA - Turkey and Azerbaijan expressed on Tuesday pleasure with efficient continuation of their strategic cooperation.
A joint statement released at the end of the meeting between Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also expressed pleasure of two countries with their successful and high-level cooperation.
In the joint statement, Turkey and Azerbaijan expressed their common wish that their good relations should be an example for other regional countries.
The statement pointed out that Turkey and Azerbaijan were aware that human rights and transparent civilian society were most important values and goals of the new millenium and stressed importance of strengthening meetings between non-governmental organizations.
Tete-a-tete meeting between Sezer and Aliyev and meetings between Turkish and Azerbaijani delegations were held in a sincere atmosphere which reflected close partnership and fraternal ties between two countries, the statement stressed.
The statement said that Turkey and Azerbaijan discussed opportunities to further improve bilateral relations and exchanged comprehensive views on regional and international issues.
Turkey confirmed its support to process of democratization, and settlement of non-governmental and free market principles in Azerbaijan, the statement stressed.
The statement noted that Turkey stressed importance of continuation of those steps with determination.
In the joint statement, Turkey and Azerbaijan once more stressed that Upper Karabakh dispute should be solved peacefully without losing more time within the framework of basic and indispensable principles like international law, sovereignty of states, respect to territorial integrity, and immunity of borders.
Turkey and Azerbaijan once more demanded that Armenia should withdraw from the Azerbaijani lands it had occupied, and that refugees should be enabled to return to their homeland, the statement said.
The statement said, ''Turkey and Azerbaijan condemns every kind of separatist movements and terrorism and attacks of regional countries which aim to change by force borders recognized to regional states by international community, which threaten security and territorial integrity of the states, and which violate human rights and fundamental liberties, democratic principles and social values. They once more confirm their common will to exert concerted efforts in not only bilateral but also international platforms to fight against all those threats.''
''Two countries have once more demand that Armenia should withdraw from Azerbaijani lands which it occupied, and that refugees should be enabled to return to their homeland. Turkey and Azerbaijan have once more stressed the need to solve Upper Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, one of the main reasons which obstructed lasting peace and stability in South Caucasus, through peaceful means and without losing more time in line with basic and indispensable principles like international law, sovereignty of states, respect to territorial integrity and immunity of border,'' the statement said.
The statement noted that Turkey and Azerbaijan stated that neighbor countries should give up their hostile policies towards each other in order to ensure atmosphere of confidence, better relations and create cooperation opportunities among regional countries.
(BRC-AY) 13.04.2004