"For peace, Armenia should withdraw from Azerbaijani lands"

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, who is currently in Turkey on an official visit, has said, that Turkey attributed great importance to its relations with Azerbaijan, adding, "our power depends on our unity."

Addressing the Turkish parliamentary general assembly, President Aliyev said on Wednesday, "during the last two days in Turkey, I observed that the friendly relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan has been further improving day by day. Turkey was the first country recognizing Azerbaijan after it acquired independence. Turkey has always supported Azerbaijan. We appreciate it. We believe that our countries will continue to support each other in the future. Our power depends on our unity."

Recalling that Azerbaijan had experienced many disasters since the day it acquired independence, President Aliyev said, "Armenia’s aggressive policy against Azerbaijan has resulted in occupation of a part of Azerbaijani territories. Our country has begun providing stability and economic development gradually since 1993. Azerbaijan has reached complete stability only after 1996."

Noting that Azerbaijan perpetually developed between 1996 and 2003, President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan topped the former Soviet Republics as for national income per capita.

Pointing out that they had put into practice the privatization program in their economy, President Aliyev said that private sector had a share of 74 percent in economy.

He stressed that they attributed importance to social justice.

Describing Azerbaijan as a modern and secular state, President Aliyev added that they had made significant progress in democratization, civilization and human rights.

Aliyev said, "Azerbaijan recognizes territorial integrity of the other countries. Recognition of our territorial integrity is our rightful request. The Upper Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan and will belong to us in the future."

Aliyev said, "our relations with the European Union (EU) have been further improving. The EU’s interest in the region has increased recently. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan attributes great importance to integration with Europe."

Pointing out that construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project had been continuing, President Aliyev said, "I believe that the project will be finalized on time. This project was put into practice as a result of great initiatives of former President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Therefore, the project was given his name. Unfortunately, some obstacles were put in front of the projects. Some serious jeopardies were created for the future of Azerbaijan. We believe that after finalization of the project, the atmosphere in the region will completely change. The project will bring forth stability, confidence and power in our region."

Noting that works over the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline project had also been continuing, President Aliyev said, "the project will enable us to sell Azerbaijani natural gas to Turkey and to European countries. It will be cheaper than the natural gases of the other countries."

Stressing that a solution should be found to the Upper Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia to provide stability and security in the region, President Aliyev said, "this problem has been continuing for years. As a result of Armenia’s aggressive policy, some parts of Azerbaijani territories were occupied. About 1 million Azerbaijani people have been living under extremely difficult conditions because of Armenian occupation. This dispute should be resolved without any delay. Azerbaijan is a fair state and it is loyal to international law norms."

"Azerbaijan recognizes territorial integrity of all other countries. We want our territorial integrity to be recognized too. It is our rightful demand. I am sure that there would be developments to this end. We are in the 21st century during which occupation of a country’s soil by another country can’t be possible" he said.

"Armenian administration does not have any rightful reason. What does Armenia want? The only demand of Armenia is that Upper Karabakh Armenians want to determine their destiny ourselves. Armenians living in Upper Karabakh have come to ancient soil of Azerbaijan as guests in 1820s. As a result of it, a monument has been erected in the capital city of Upper Karabakh," Aliyev stated.

Defending that Armenians should determine their destiny within the Armenian state, Aliyev said, "I wonder how many Armenian states would be created in the world if Armenians seek to determined their own destiny in all countries they live. Because Armenians live in Georgia, Russia, the United States, France and other countries. Do they determine their destiny in all these countries or do they prefer only Azerbaijan? It contradicts international norms. If Armenians living in Karabakh want to determine their own fate, they should do it within the Armenian state." Stressing that Upper Karabakh was "Azerbaijani soil" and it would remain as Azerbaijani territory, Aliyev said, "Azerbaijan will save its territories at any cost." Aliyev said that he believed that OSCE Minsk Group would take important steps in near future about the issue.

Noting that it was his first ever official visit to Turkey as the Azerbaijani President, Aliyev said, "I am quite faithful to Turkey and I see Turkey my homeland. My visit will play important role in development of relations between our two countries which will record further progress."