Turkey – Azerbaijan Relations Should Be Further..

Replying to questions of A.A correspondent, Ibrahimov said that when various processes such as Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and natural gas pipeline projects were taken into consideration, two countries needed support of each other in this critical period.

Noting that Turkey would always take necessary support from Azerbaijan, Ibrahimov said that relations of two strategical ally countries Turkey and Azerbaijan had a dynamic course.

Defining the relations of two countries as ”one nation two states” and underlining that two countries did not have any problems, Ibrahimov said that Azerbaijani people and rule considered problems of Turkey and Turkish people as their own problems, adding that Azerbaijan felt Turkey’s support when it had problems.

Noting that Turkey and Azerbaijan should be together among international societies, Ibrahimov said that the aim of the meeting on ”past, present and future of Azerbaijan-Turkey relations” which would be held in Ankara tomorrow was to produce views on the ways of further improvement of relations of two countries in the 21st century.

Ibrahimov said that problems in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project were eliminated and they were determined to complete the project in 2005.

Noting that when the project first appeared, very few politicians took it into consideration, Ibrahimov stressed that in spite of pressures to change the route of line and lobbying activities of big states against the project, the pipeline was passed via Turkey by the insistent attitude of former President Haydar Aliyev. He said that problems were now eliminated and the pipeline received full financial support, adding that he thought that no problems would appear from now on.

Upon a question, Ibrahimov said that he did not think that the developments in Georgia would negatively affect the future of pipeline.

Recalling that Mihail Saakashvili, the new president candidate of Georgia issued statements extending support to the project and promising that relations with Azerbaijan would improve, Ibrahimov said that these statements and recent developments showed that despite the change of the political power in Georgia, there would not be change in the project and the project would finish in 2005 like Azerbaijan and Turkey thought.

Ibrahimov stated that they would take measures to further develop the economic situation of Azerbaijan and they thought of taking steps to strengthen foreign capital.

Ibrahimov remarked that foreign investors also believed in stability in Azerbaijan and they brought important investment proposals, adding that ”I suppose important investment will be undertaken in Azerbaijan in short time.”

Noting that the government would launch efforts to create a transparent atmosphere for foreign businessmen, to lift bureaucratic obstacles, and to create convenient conditions for foreign investors, Ibrahimov called all Azerbaijanis living abroad to invest in Azerbaijan.

Referring to certain problems that came out between Azerbaijan and Council of Europe (COE), Ibrahimov said that they took steps to sort out these problems, but COE applied double standards in certain issues.

”Our regard to certain issues is different,” said Ibrahimov, criticizing COE which called the persons arrested for getting involved in the incidents that took place following the presidential elections in Azerbaijan as ”political inmates” and its saying that the elections were not fair. Ibrahimov said that the crimes of those who were arrested after the incidents following the elections would be investigated and those persons would be released if they were innocent.

Referring to Upper Karabakh problem, Ibrahimov said that they wanted to solve this problem for long years and they continued their efforts to find a solution. But he warned that if no solution was going to be found despite those efforts, they would think of military measures.

”Neither the Azerbaijani people, nor the government would accept giving Upper Karabakh to Armenia,” said Ibrahimov and stressed that they had a tough attitude about it. He also expressed his pleasure over Turkey’s support to Azerbaijan regarding this problem.

Ibrahimov stated that there were positive developments for the solution of the problem and both Russia and the U.S. more actively dealt with the issue expressing his belief that a solution would be found soon.