BAKU - Turkish Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe said Caucasus is a very important for Turkey and they closely monitor developments in this region.
''We won't ignore the problems in Caucasus as we are aware how important this region is,'' he said.
Pepe who is actually in Baku was received by Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Murtuz Aleskerov today. Speaking at the meeting, Pepe said Turkey has always supported Azerbaijan, stressing that they always brought to the attention of the participants, the question of Upper Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory under Armenian occupation, in international fora. ''Turkey always stood by Azerbaijan on this matter and she would support the decision that Azerbaijani people will take'' he said.
Noting that mutual investments and relations between businessmen were important to promote friendship between two sister countries, Pepe said that increase in the volume of investments and commerce will boost friendship and brotherhood between the two countries.
Aleskerov said, in his part, that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are at a high level, a number of agreements have been signed in many areas, and the two countries have been cooperating under the umbrella of international institutions and organizations.
The most serious problem of Azerbaijan is the occupation of Upper Karabakh by Armenia, Aleskerov said and stated that Azerbaijan has always gotten support of Turkey on this matter.
Aleskerov said that ''they are in favor of resolving the Upper Karabakh dispute peacefully and through dialogue, though they have not get any positive result yet.''
Aleskerov added that he invited Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc to visit Baku.
(MS-ULG) 08.07.2004