BAKU (AA) - Deputy Chief of Staff of Turkish army Gen. Ilker Basbug said that the occupation of Azeri territory is unacceptable by Turkey. ''Turkey wishes the Upper Karabagh problem be resolved as soon as possible. The Turkish Republic will continue to deploy efforts to end the occupation,'' he said.
General Basbug was received by the Azeri Parliament Speaker Murtuz Aleskerov.
General Basbug expressed that, since Azerbaijan gained its independence, relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have shown a rapid and remarkable growth. ''The situation Azerbaijan is in, especially the Armenian occupation of Upper Karabagh and its surrounding, is totally unacceptable for Turkey,'' stressed General Basbug.
Basbug also commented on Turkey-Armenia relations. ''There are two problems with Armenia. The first one has to do with the Armenian occupation of Upper Karabagh. The second one is about baseless Armenian allegations of a genocide,'' noted Basbug. ''I am confident that the Armenian society thinks differently than the government itself,'' said Basbug.
Basbug added that military ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan are excellent.
Basbug remarked that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline is important for the future of the region. ''We have to provide the necessary protection that this oil pipeline deserves as there could be attacks on this pipeline by the enemies of the three countries,'' told Basbug.
Azeri Parliament speaker Aleskerov indicated that Turkey will not open its border pass with Armenia until Armenia fully withdraws from occupied Azeri territory. ''Turkey has always been and continues to be on our side,'' indicated Aleskerov.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has welcomed General Basbug at his office. ''The relations among our countries are at an all time high. General Basbug's visit has contributed to our already good ties in political, economic and military areas,'' stressed Aliyev.
(SOL-ULG)
2005-05-18