Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Monday, as two states of one single nation, Turkey and Azerbaijan needed to act in solidarity, cooperation and brotherhood. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev following a meeting between the delegations of Turkey and Azerbaijan, President Gul said that he was thankful to brotherly Azerbaijan for the hospitality displayed to him and the members of the Turkish delegation.
We feel at home. Whenever we come to Azerbaijan, we experience this feeling and are pleased to note the development of this country, Gul stressed.
We are one nation with separate states. We come together frequently based on such an understanding. We will continue our solidarity and cooperation, Gul underlined.
Our bilateral relations continue to develop, including in the political, security, economic and cultural fields. We discussed today ways to promote our relations. We are encouraging our companies to increase mutual investments. We are pleased with the investments of Azeri companies in Turkey. We are proud of Turkish companies doing business in Azerbaijan, Gul said.
Relations in the political sphere are crucial. The Strategic Partnership and Mutual Assistance Agreement signed on Monday are a clear proof of the importance of political relations, Gul said.
We discussed today what must be done to make Caucasia a region of stability and security, Gul said.
We talked on the solution of the Upper Karabakh problem and the end of occupation in Azerbaijani territory. Millions of immigrants live in difficult conditions. For the past 18 years, the world has not displayed the essential attention to the region. We will continue to hold consultations on the region. It is not right to leave aside frozen issues. Frozen matters may one day become greater problems. International organizations, including the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), have made calls to find a solution in this region, Gul said.
Turkey will continue to make efforts so that the issue of occupied Azeri territory gets solved. I want all of my Azeri brothers and sisters to know that Turkey is and will always be on the side of Azerbaijan, Gul also said.
WE HAVE TO TURN CAUCASUS INTO A REGION OF STABILITY & COOPERATION, PRESIDENT GUL SAYS
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Monday the Caucasus must be turned into a region of stability and cooperation.
In order to realize this goal, the problem of Upper Karabakh must be resolved by preserving the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Gul stressed.
President Gul answered questions of the press corps at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani colleague Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Monday.
Asked if the issue of visa liberalization came up during today's talks, President Gul said that "surely, we did discuss the issue of visas".
Azerbaijan has some thoughts on the issue of visas and our related institutions will discuss them, Gul said.
In response to a question on the Upper Karabakh problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia, President Gul said that "the Caucasus must be turned into a region of stability and cooperation".
We have to solve the Upper Karabakh problem to turn the Caucasus into a region of stability and cooperation. The issue of Upper Karabakh has been alive for the past 18 years and it should not continue. For this reason, we have to talk and use diplomacy to solve the matter within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The occupation of land shown in the map of a country by the United Nations is against international laws and can not be tolerated, Gul stressed.
In regard to a question on Turkey-Armenia relations, President Gul said that the problems in the Caucasus must be resolved through peaceful means.
Resolving the problems will lead to greater cooperation, the opening up of the borders, the construction of new highways, and creation of bigger economic activities. Big problems can get solved by silent diplomacy and this is how we will solve the problems of the region, Gul also said.
TurkishNY
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