Parliament Speaker Izgi In Baku

BAKU, Feb 8 (A.A) - Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi received on Friday Azerbaijani Prime Minister Arthur Rasizade.
The meeting was close to the press.
Speaking after the meeting, Rasizade said that he explained Izgi about the recent developments that concern the status problem among the littoral countries of Caspian Sea.
Rasizade said that they discussed the bilateral and regional relations and exchanged views about the economic cooperation programme between Turkey and Azerbaijan which covers a period of ten years, in the meeting.
Izgi also received the same day Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayet Guliyev. Guliyev told A.A after the meeting that they exchanged views about bilateral and regional issues with Izgi.
Guliyev noted that they particularly discussed in details the peaceful solution process of the Upper Karabakh problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia, adding that they were supported by Turkey for the solution process of the problem. He noted that the cooperation in this issue would continue both in international platform and also in bilateral relations.
Izgi will participate in the reception to be hosted by the Turkish Embassy in Baku in his honour this evening.
IZGI AND HIS AZERBAIJANI COUNTERPART ALESKEROV HOLD JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said on Friday that there was not any change in Turkey's policy regarded with Upper Karabakh, which is under Armenian occupation, and pointed out that concession would not be made on Upper Karabakh issue.
Parliament Speaker Izgi, currently in Baku, held a joint news conference with Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Murtuz Aleskerov.
Stressing that Turkey's stance has not changed about the Upper Karabakh problem, which is the biggest problem of Azerbaijan, and that Azerbaijan will absolutely be informed from any meeting that will take place with Armenia, Izgi said, ''Armenia should immediately withdraw from the terroritories of Azerbaijan which it occupied.''
Aleskerov in his part said cooperation between the two countries was reflected in many platforms, noting that Turkey always supported Azerbaijan in international platforms like Council of Europe, OSCE, NATO, and BSEC.
Aleskerov said friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan were strong and permanent.
When asked what would be done to improve cooperation between the parliaments, Izgi said Turkish Parliament called for establishment of interparliamentarians union to discuss domestic and foreign problems together.
Izgi said the proposal had been accepted by Kazakhstan and Kyrgzstan last year, adding that they reached a consensus of opinion with Aleskerov in this respect.
Pointing out that Georgia could be included in this union, Izgi said Armenia could join the union if it withdraws from the Azerbijani territories it occupied.

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI SPEAKS AT AZERBAIJANI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: AZERBAIJAN IS A COUNTRY WHICH PROTECTS WESTERN VALUES LIKE TURKEY AND WHICH HAS TURNED ITS FACE TO WEST
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said on Friday that Azerbaijan was a country which protected western values like Turkey and which had turned its face to the west.
Izgi, who spoke at the Azerbaijani National Assembly, said that the steps that Azerbaijan had taken to improve its democracy despite all difficulties should be evaluated as constructive.
Parliament Speaker Izgi noted that he was paying a visit to Azerbaijan upon the invitation of Azerbaijani National Assembly Chairman Murtuz Alasgarov.
Izgi stated that Azerbaijan had marked important success in ensuring internal security, strengthening the state and transition into free market economy after it gained its independence.
Azerbaijan had reached a good place in international community since it gained its independence, Izgi said and pointed out that the National Assembly had a pioneering role in that process.
Izgi stressed that Turkish-Azerbaijani relations were developing in the direction of the principle of ''one nation, two countries''.
''Turkish and Azerbaijani parliamentarians oppose to the unfair accusations brought to agenda against our countries in international organizations, particularly in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA), as a single voice. This is the best example of their cooperation,'' Izgi said.
Izgi reminded the listeners that the National Assembly reacted to the recognition of so-called Armenian genocide by the French Senate last year and adopted a declaration and said that this was very meaningful for Turkey.
Izgi said that the most important impediment that stands in front of the bright future of Azerbaijan is the problem with Armenia, adding that one fifth of Azerbaijan's territories is under occupation and nearly one million Azeri refugees live under difficult conditions.
''Armenia has to withdraw from the Azerbaijani territories, a solution which does not respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan won't be valid. The Turkish parliament will always be besides Azerbaijan for the solution of Upper Karabakh problem,'' Izgi said.
Referring to the bilateral relations, Izgi said that the economic relations between the two countries should further improve.
Noting that many Turkish firms which work in Azerbaijan employed 40,000 Azerbaijani citizens, Izgi said that effective measures have to be taken to further improve these relations. He stressed that the Protocol of the Joint Economic Commission meeting would contribute to this development.
Stressing that the natural gas pipelines of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (Shahdeniz) showed the economic cooperation between the two countries, Izgi said that these projects would seriously contribute to the economic development of Azerbaijani people.
Azerbaijani National Assembly Speaker Murtuz Aleskerov quoted the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who said that ''if Azerbaijan pleases, we will be pleased. If Azerbaijan is sad, we will also be sad.'' He noted that the developing relations between the two countries are at the level of strategic cooperation.
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI VISITS REFUGEES IN BAKU
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said on Friday that Azerbaijan should not participate in the meetings at political platforms without Turkey during the process of solution to Azerbaijan's Upper Karabakh problem.
Izgi, his wife Aysel Izgi and accompanying parliamentary delegation visited the refugees which had settled in a building in Nerimanov neighborhood in Baku.
During the visit, Izgi who was also accompanied by Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Unal Cevikoz got information from ''State Committee for Refugees'' Chairman Ali Hasanov.
When Hasanov said that they wanted Turkey to make direct contribution to solution of the problem, Izgi said, ''don't attend the meetings at political platforms without Turkey during the process of solution to Upper Karabakh issue. If there is a need for Turkey's contribution to solution of the problem with peaceful methods, this should be requested and brought onto the agenda by the Azerbaijani government.''
Noting that they wanted the problem to be solved with peaceful methods, Izgi said, ''also this process has a limit, of course. Any obstacle will not remain in front of the Azerbaijani parliament if this limit is exceeded.''
Recalling that the Turkish Red Crescent had so far sent nearly 18 million U.S. dollars of aid to refugees but the latest aid was not at the required level due to the economic crisis in Turkey, Izgi said, ''however, Turkey's economy has recovered. It will make great progress next year.''
IZGI: AZERBAIJAN SHOULD NOT ATTEND TALKS AT POLITICAL PLATFORMS ABOUT UPPER KARABAKH PROBLEM WITHOUT TURKEY
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said on Friday that Turkey should not participate in the talks at political platforms for the solution of the Upper Karabakh problem without Turkey.
Omer Izgi, who is currently in Baku, visited Azeri refugees who settled in a building in Nerimanov district together with the Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Unal Cevikoz.
Izgi got information from the Chairman of State Refugees Committee Ali Hasanov in the building. When Hasanov told him that they expected direct support from Turkey for the solution of the problem, Izgi said that ''don't participate in the talks for the solution of Upper Karabakh problem without Turkey. If you want Turkey's direct support to the peaceful solution of the problem, Azeri government has to demand it and bring it onto agenda.''
Turkey wants the peaceful solution of the problem, said Izgi and noted that ''certainly this process has a limit. When this limit is exceeded, the Azerbaijani National Assembly can take a decision.''
Izgi said that Turkish Red Crescent sent an aid worth of 18 million dollars to the refugees to date.
IZGI: ''PARLIAMENT WILL PASS A DECISION OF CONDEMNATION FOR THE GENOCIDE MADE BY THE ARMENIANS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE''
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said on Friday that Turkish parliament would pass a decision of condemnation for the genocide made by the Armenians as soon as possible.
Izgi, who is currently paying an official visit to Azerbaijan, met with the members of the Turkish-Azerbaijani Friendship Group.
Parliament Speaker Izgi touched on the genocide made in Hocali city under Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijan on February 26, 1992 and said that the efforts carried out by the parliament to officially recognize the genocide made by the Armenians would be concluded in the possible shortest time.
Izgi noted that they were late in establishing a Turkish Culture Center between Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The only institution which would not be damaged in relationship was the cultural unity, Izgi stated and said that they would fulfil this unity.
Izgi pointed out that the functioning of ''Ataturk Center'' in Baku with the decision of Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev was a very positive idea.
They would continue cooperation regarding this issue, Izgi said.
Upon questions about armament of Armenia by Russia, Izgi said, ''we know that Russia is supporting Armenia by supplying weapons. What is important is the existence of a labour force which can use old technologies. Labour force exist in Azerbaijan, but it does not exist there (in Armenia).''
Touching on military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Izgi said that Azerbaijan would become ''the most powerful state'' in its region in the near future as it continued training works.
Izgi said that ''Azerbaijan, the educated quadres of which united with national and moral power, was not in a situation to be reluctant in front of a group with military pile-up in Armenia.''