ANKARA - Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said, ''we have been monitoring the reform process in Azerbaijan under the leadership of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. We are ready to support him to be successful in this process.''
President Sezer hosted a banquet in honor of Azerbaijani President Aliyev who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, on Tuesday.
Speaking at the banquet, President Sezer said, ''there has been very special relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Former President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan had made significant contributions to these relations. While his son Ilham Aliyev has been pursuing his rationalist policies, he has also been making some reforms. We believe that integration of Azerbaijan with the modern world will accelerate under his distinguished leadership. We have been monitoring the reform process in Azerbaijan. We are ready to support President Aliyev to be successful in this process.''
Referring to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, President Sezer said, ''we wish that Kazakhstan will join the project soon. Impacts of the project will not be limited with economic development. The project will make a valuable contribution to efforts to provide stability in the southern Caucasus.''
Pointing out that the Upper Karabakh dispute was the most serious problem in the region, President Sezer said, ''attempts to change the recognized international borders by using force is unacceptable. Turkey will continue to support Azerbaijan to this end. We hope that the Upper Karabakh dispute will be resolved peacefully in line with international laws by protecting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Such a solution will be possible only with Armenia's taking the necessary steps to provide peace, tranquility and stability in the region. Azerbaijan has refrained from any attempts that could bring the process to a deadlock so far. We appreciate Azerbaijan's positive attitude.''
Recalling that he had held very constructive talks with President Aliyev, President Sezer said, ''both Turkey and Azerbaijan aim to further improve their bilateral relations.''
Highlighting importance of increasing mutual high-level visits between Turkey and Azerbaijan, President Sezer said, ''as you know, President Aliyev inaugurated the Ataturk Center in Azerbaijani capital Baku. We are pleased with Azerbaijani people's sincere interest in Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.''
Meanwhile, President Aliyev said in his part that the sound relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan had played an important role in development of the whole region.
Noting that there had been exemplary co-operation relations between the two countries, President Aliyev said that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project had brought Turkish and Azerbaijani peoples closer to each other.
Recalling that important progress had been made both in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project and in the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline project, President Aliyev expressed his belief that the projects would be finalized soon.
Pointing out that Turkey had always supported Azerbaijan, President Aliyev expressed his hope that the Upper Karabakh dispute would be resolved peacefully.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok, Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Sami Guclu, State Minister Kursat Tuzmen, Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin, Ankara Governor Yahya Gur and some ministers also partook in the banquet.
(UK) 13.04.2004
ANKARA - Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said, ''we have been monitoring the reform process in Azerbaijan under the leadership of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. We are ready to support him to be successful in this process.''
President Sezer hosted a banquet in honor of Azerbaijani President Aliyev who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, on Tuesday.
Speaking at the banquet, President Sezer said, ''there has been very special relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Former President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan had made significant contributions to these relations. While his son Ilham Aliyev has been pursuing his rationalist policies, he has also been making some reforms. We believe that integration of Azerbaijan with the modern world will accelerate under his distinguished leadership. We have been monitoring the reform process in Azerbaijan. We are ready to support President Aliyev to be successful in this process.''
Referring to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, President Sezer said, ''we wish that Kazakhstan will join the project soon. Impacts of the project will not be limited with economic development. The project will make a valuable contribution to efforts to provide stability in the southern Caucasus.''
Pointing out that the Upper Karabakh dispute was the most serious problem in the region, President Sezer said, ''attempts to change the recognized international borders by using force is unacceptable. Turkey will continue to support Azerbaijan to this end. We hope that the Upper Karabakh dispute will be resolved peacefully in line with international laws by protecting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Such a solution will be possible only with Armenia's taking the necessary steps to provide peace, tranquility and stability in the region. Azerbaijan has refrained from any attempts that could bring the process to a deadlock so far. We appreciate Azerbaijan's positive attitude.''
Recalling that he had held very constructive talks with President Aliyev, President Sezer said, ''both Turkey and Azerbaijan aim to further improve their bilateral relations.''
Highlighting importance of increasing mutual high-level visits between Turkey and Azerbaijan, President Sezer said, ''as you know, President Aliyev inaugurated the Ataturk Center in Azerbaijani capital Baku. We are pleased with Azerbaijani people's sincere interest in Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.''
Meanwhile, President Aliyev said in his part that the sound relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan had played an important role in development of the whole region.
Noting that there had been exemplary co-operation relations between the two countries, President Aliyev said that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project had brought Turkish and Azerbaijani peoples closer to each other.
Recalling that important progress had been made both in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project and in the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline project, President Aliyev expressed his belief that the projects would be finalized soon.
Pointing out that Turkey had always supported Azerbaijan, President Aliyev expressed his hope that the Upper Karabakh dispute would be resolved peacefully.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok, Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Sami Guclu, State Minister Kursat Tuzmen, Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin, Ankara Governor Yahya Gur and some ministers also partook in the banquet.
(UK) 13.04.2004