Baku, Ankara set to deepen military cooperation, increase trade turnover
The sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held in Baku, where the Azerbaijani and Turkish leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest,regional developments, mutual economic relations, as well as the Karabakh conflict.
Ahead of the high level meeting, the two presidents had one-on-one meeting, during which they expressed satisfaction with the successful development of friendly and fraternal relations between the two countries in all spheres.
The importance of the sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey HighLevel Strategic Cooperation Council was stressed in terms of determining the prospects for ties and further deepening of the bilateral relations.
Turkey-Azerbaijan relations are at the highest level and at the highest peak, Ilham Aliyev said addressing the meeting. “Mr. President, we attach great importance to your visit. Today, we have discussed a number of issues at the one-on-one meeting,” said President Aliyev. “Our views on the development of our relations coincide,” noted the president.
“There are many issues on the agenda – political relations, joint activities in international organizations, economic cooperation, military, military-technical cooperation, and of course, energy and transportation issues,” said President Aliyev, adding that there are very good results in all spheres.
Edogan, who stayed on in the capital for a day after the solemn opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway the day before said “it is a great honor to see the launch of the BakuTbilisi-Kars railway.”
“Along with the meetings we had yesterday and today, we are observing with particular happiness the high level attained in the TurkeyAzerbaijan friendship and brotherhood,” he said. “Especially now we are very proud to see the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. Our 15minute railway journey was witnessed by our citizens, our peoples. Hopefully, soon we will all see them traveling from Kars not just to Baku but also to Beijing, London.”
Following the sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, a ceremony of signing six agreements was held with participation of the two leaders. The presidents signed a protocol of the sixth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Other documents included a MoU on cooperation in the field of higher education, an agreement on cooperation in the field of education, MoU of understanding on signing a preferential trade agreement, an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense industry as well as an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of production and certification of seeds of forage plants.
Speaking at the joint press conference after the signing ceremony, President Aliyev touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The people and state of Azerbaijan will never allow creation of a second Armenian state on Azerbaijan's historical land, Ilham Aliyev said.
The president said that the Armenia-Azerbaijan NagornoKarabakh conflict, one of the most painful problems for the region today, has also been discussed.
“Unfortunately, this conflict has not been solved yet. Azerbaijan’s historical land, Nagorno-Karabakh, and seven surrounding districts are under occupation, and as a result of the occupation, more than one million Azerbaijanis have become displaced persons,” said President Aliyev. “International organizations, especially the UN Security Council passed four resolutions on the conflict. These resolutions indicate that the Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally from the occupied lands.”
“Unfortunately, these resolutions remain on paper, Armenia still ignores them, and the conflict remains unresolved. This is the policy of double standards against us. In some cases, UN Security Council resolutions are implemented within a few days. However, in our case, these resolutions and decisions remain unfulfilled for more than 20 years,” added the president.
The head of state noted that the Armenia-Azerbaijan NagornoKarabakh conflict must be resolved on the basis of international law and within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
The head of state further said that political relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey are developing successfully.
Speaking about the high-level mutual visits, President Aliyev reminded that he has visited Turkey twice this year, and today the Turkish President is on a visit to Azerbaijan. Ministers, other officials meet frequently.
Meanwhile, the two countries support each other in all international organizations, said President Aliyev.
“Today, we have discussed the military cooperation extensively,” he noted adding that this issue is also on the agenda.
Noting that three joint military exercises have been held in Azerbaijan, two military exercises – in Baku and one military exercise – in Nakhchivan this year, President Aliyev said that this is a factor strengthening the two countries’ cooperation in the military sphere.
Turkey’s growing military industrial complex is of great interest to Azerbaijan, said Ilham Aliyev, adding that Azerbaijan buys and will continue buying military products from Turkey.
President Aliyev went on to say that the document signed today in the economic sphere is of great importance.
“Preferential, in other words, the privileged trade agreement is of great importance,” noted the president.
He expressed confidence that once this agreement enters into force, the two countries’ trade turnover will increase significantly.
Speaking about the investments, President Aliyev said that to date, $10 billion have been invested in Turkey by Azerbaijan, and $11 billion have been invested in Azerbaijan by Turkey.
The volume of these investments will further increase and Azerbaijan’s investments in Turkey must reach $20 billion, added the head of state.
Turkish companies have been operating successfully in Azerbaijan for a long time and to date, Turkish companies, at the expense of the Azerbaijani state budget, have been carrying out various work worth $11 billion, added Ilham Aliyev.
This strengthens friendship and cooperation between businessmen, noted the president.
“Of course, energy and transportation issues have been traditionally discussed at today’s meeting,” said the president, and added that “we are moving confidently towards the set targets”.
The Azerbaijani president expressed confidence that the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project will be completed soon and there is no problem with its implementation.
“The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project was put into operation yesterday. We celebrated this historic day together with my brother, our brothers and sisters who came from Turkey. This is our great success, great victory,” said the Azerbaijani president.
This once again shows that all the projects involving Turkey and Azerbaijan and those initiated by the two countries are being implemented, noted President Aliyev.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his part, said that Turkey and Azerbaijan will strengthen relations in all spheres, stressing that the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are also important in the world arena.
“Today, Turkey and Azerbaijan not only connect continents, but also carry out important energy projects, implementation of which successfully continues,” he said.
The Turkish president pointed out that some circles are concerned about Azerbaijan and Turkey’s significant energy projects.
“Even when the BTK railway’s construction started, there were those skeptical about the project’s implementation. But, as is known, the official opening ceremony of the BTK was held yesterday,” he said.
Erdogan noted that Turkey and Azerbaijan also strengthen their economic ties. “I hope that Turkey and Azerbaijan will be able to achieve a trade turnover of $5 billion in the near future,” he said.
He added that Turkey and Azerbaijan strengthen relations in the defense sphere as well.“We also intend to develop ties with Azerbaijan in tourism.”
Erdogan noted that Turkey will further support Azerbaijan and continue to share its experience.