President Erdogan: Turkey, Azerbaijan have potential to bring mutual investments to $30B

An exclusive interview of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Azerbaijan's media outlets - Trend, Azertac and APA.

25-year-old strategic partnership

In January 2017, Turkey marked the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan. The fact that the 25-yearold ties with Azerbaijan stand at the level of strategic partnership gives special joy and pride to Turkey, Erdogan noted.

Erdogan said that for the period that has passed since declaration of independence by Azerbaijan, the country, following the course determined by national leader Heydar Aliyev, continued under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, has become an impregnable fortress of stability, cooperation and intercultural tolerance in the region.

“Bilateral relations, corresponding to the spirit of the Turkish-Azerbaijani strategic partnership, continue to develop in all spheres, including the economic, energy, military, defense and security ones,” Erdogan noted. “Finally, we welcomed my brother President Ilham Aliyev as a distinguished guest at the D-8 summit in Istanbul. At the meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan HighLevel Strategic Cooperation Council we will consider the issues on the agenda.”

“At the meeting, we will sign a protocol and some other agreements,”he added.“These documents will undoubtedly further strengthen the legal base of the existing bilateral cooperation. We are satisfied with the systematic annual meetings of the Council. Next year, our country will host the seventh meeting, and in this regard, it will be an honor for us to meet my dear brother President Ilham Aliyev in Turkey.”

Nagorno-Karabakh issue

The Nagorno-Karabakh issue is the bleeding wound for Turkey as for Azerbaijan, said Turkey’s President.

"Unfortunately, unless Armenia ends occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, this issue will not be resolved," he said.

President Erdogan stressed that the occupation should be immediately ended on the basis of the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders of Azerbaijan.

"We also condemn provocations targeting the civilian population along with Armenia's occupation policy. Such actions can in no way help the peace in the region," he said.

"We believe that the international community, especially the Minsk Group, should work more actively to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. We will continue to stand next with Azerbaijan in this matter, as in every matter."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the NagornoKarabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

BTK important part of historical Silk Road

Today, the first train will be launched on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which is as strategically important for Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia as for the entire region, said Erdogan.

"With this we announce that a direct rail link has been established from London to China through the middle corridor," he added.

Currently, the cargo shipping time from China to such European countries as Great Britain, France and Germany along the South corridor and the North corridor, including the maritime shipment, is approximately 45-62 days, said Erdogan.

He pointed out that the same cargo will reach the EU countries within 12-15 days through the middle corridor with the launch of the BTK.

"In other words, shipments sent by China to the EU, along with the BTK line, will reach the destination just in one fourth of the previous period," added Turkey's president.

Currently, the volume of cargo transported from China to Europe is more than 240 million tons. If 10 percent of this volume is carried out via the middle corridor passing through the territory of our countries, then 24 million tons of additional cargo will be transported, he said.

"Transportation of this cargo via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway for 3045 less days than via other corridors will be considered more profitable for transporters. I am convinced that the BTK will be enough to turn the Middle Corridor Transportation Line into an important part of the historical Silk Road with just this reason. At the same time, we believe that the transport projects that are being implemented in parallel in our region are complementary and reinforcing," said Erdogan.

He pointed out that in addition to its economic advantages, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will contribute to the development of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia globally by improving peace, security, stability and social wellbeing, providing the flow of goods and passengers along with information flow.

TANAP -- Europe’s energy security

The Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project, which is developed jointly by Turkey and Azerbaijan is a strategic project of great importance for Europe’s energy security as well, said Erdogan.

He expressed confidence that the sides will mark the commissioning of TANAP in the near future.

“We rank second after China among the countries of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in terms of increasing energy demand. In this regard, TANAP has a crucial importance in terms of meeting the rapidly increasing natural gas demand of Turkey,” said Turkey’s president.

At the same time, gas supply from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field to Europe will definitely make contribution to Europe’s energy diversification, said Erdogan, adding that serious efforts are underway to connect Turkmen gas to this project.

He noted that gas to be received as part of TANAP’s first phase has been included in Turkey’s gas demand report for the upcoming period.

On the other hand, work continues on the implementation of the TurkStream pipeline project in order to ensure the supply of Russian gas currently received through Balkans directly through the Black Sea, added Erdogan.

Turkey’s president noted that his country is ready to consider new projects for gas supply from Eastern Mediterranean and Iraq.

“Researches show that Eastern Mediterranean gas has turned into a new alternative for diversification of our sources. Among all these gas supply projects, Turkey participates in the most beneficial project from the financial point of view and shortest route of supply to Europe. We will continue to make new investments in order to turn our country into a natural gas and energy trade center,” he concluded.

TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018 and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline's construction the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020.

The length of TANAP is 1,850 kilometers with an initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters of gas. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas is meant to be delivered to Turkey, with the remaining volume to be supplied to Europe.

Mutual investments

Erdogan said that Turkey and Azerbaijan have potential to bring the volume of mutual investments to $30 billion over five years.

“First of all, Turkey and Azerbaijan are brotherly countries and our relations in the economic sphere are formed on the basis of brotherhood. In fact, the volume of mutual investments of the two countries stood at $23 billion as of late 2016. We have a potential to bring the volume of our investments to $30 billion over five years,” said Turkey’s president.

“Naturally, ongoing geopolitical processes in the global economy and region affect all of us. As we know, it is already four years that Turkey has been targeted by numerous attacks from various directions aiming to weaken it. But we are steadfast. Azerbaijan was affected by lower oil prices. We believe that every difficulty also brings some opportunities,” he added.

Erdogan said Turkey sees that the efforts to develop Azerbaijan’s non-oil sector are increasing successfully under the farsighted leadership of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

“We will work in close cooperation with our Azerbaijani brothers in promoting foreign investments, attracting Turkish companies to invest in Azerbaijan and in privatization sphere. With this purpose, our ministries of economy continue to work on holding Road Show event in cooperation with Foreign Economic Relations Board in Turkey,” added Turkey’s president.

“Moreover, various measures were taken to develop our trade relations with Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and encourage our businessmen. On Oct.28, our economy ministers came together in Igdir, met with our businessmen and briefed them about the work done in this sphere. I believe that we will get concrete results in increasing the volume of trade turnover with Nakhchivan,” he said.

Azerbaijan - important for preventing terrorist penetration into Syria

There is no difference between the terrorist groups of Islamic State, PKK, PYD, YPG, the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C) and the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLCP), said Turkey’s President.

They have one goal – to weaken Turkey, noted Erdogan.

He said that last year Turkey, combining all its efforts in the face of the threat of terror and terrorist organizations, prevented the most treacherous coup attempt committed by the Fethullah Gulen movement (FETO), as a result of which 250 people got killed and 2,193 more got injured.

“I want to especially thank my dear brother President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani people for their solidarity against this treacherous organization. I know that the Azerbaijani people, watching the news from Turkey on July 15, took the same position with us and sincerely wished that this treacherous coup attempt failed,” said the Turkish president. “And this shows how strong the fraternal relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are. The Gulen movement is a danger to every country, in which it is present. Therefore, we are satisfied with the measures taken by Azerbaijan against the structures of FETO.”

Erdogan noted that Turkey actively cooperates with Azerbaijan in the fight against terrorism, as well as in other spheres.

He said that the operational cooperation between the authorized bodies, as well as growing exchange of intelligence data and information continues.

Azerbaijan is an important country for preventing the penetration of terrorists from abroad to Syria and conducts useful work in this field, added Erdogan.

Turkey won't allow terrorist corridor on its southern border

Turkey attaches great importance to maintaining political unity and territorial integrity of Iraq, said Turkish President.

“The developments in northern Iraq are of interest not only for Kurds, but also Arabs, Turkomans and representatives of other nationalities. Let's not forget that Iraq is not a Kurdish, Arab or Turkoman state, and Kirkuk and Mosul are not homeland of Kurds,” he said.

“Holding the referendum, the Kurdish autonomy of Iraq blatantly violated international law and the Iraqi Constitution. Despite Turkey’s warnings, unfortunately, it chose a different path and held a referendum. By this, it endangered peace and stability not only in Iraq but also in the region. The statement lately made by the Kurdish administration shows that they realized their mistake. We would like them to promptly take steps meeting our expectations. We are ready for any cooperation with the Iraqi government in the context of putting an end to the PKK's [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] presence in Iraq. Those who mediate in the PKK terrorist organization’s, which is trying to disturb public order and peace in Kirkuk, finding refuge in this region, are responsible for this.”

Turkey welcomed the Iraqi government’s statement saying that the Iraqi army will return Kirkuk and will not turn a blind eye to PKK’s actions, according to Erdogan.

“Turkey will stand with the Iraqi government to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the country. Our belief that it is possible to end the conflict in Syria only by political means is immutable. By the Astana meeting and Geneva negotiations, we will continue strong support for the transitional political process aimed at Syria’s development,” he noted.

“Turkey played a decisive role in reaching the agreement as guarantor of opposition in the discussion process on the issue of a conflict-free zone in the Syrian Idlib. We tried to take into account the opinions and approaches of various groups in the region. We carried out an operation in Idlib to achieve a ceasefire. By this operation, as well as the Euphrates Shield operation that had been conducted earlier, we will continue providing security in Idlib. This demonstrated that we can take any action against those who threaten our security. We will not allow establishment of a terrorist corridor on our southern border, and will continue to do everything possible to resolve the Syrian conflict by political means,” the Turkish president concluded.