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TURKEY DEVELOPS SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH AZERBAIJAN
By Saban Kardas
Eurasia Daily Monitor
Nov 10 2008
DC
On November 5 and 6, after his reelection last month, Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliyev visited Turkey, where he discussed the
developments in the Caucasus, relations with Armenia, and deepening
cooperation between the two countries.
On November 5 he attended a dinner given by his host President Abdullah
Gul and attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other
ministers (Anadolu Ajansi, November 6). On the second day of his visit
Aliyev addressed a session of the Turkish Parliament (www.cnnturk.com,
November 6). The two presidents emphasized the close friendship between
their countries and the importance of Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation for
peace and stability in the Caucasus. The leaders repeated the oft-heard
motto of "one nation, two states" and made references to historical
and cultural ties between the two countries. Aliyev remarked that
no other countries had such close relations as those between Turkey
and Azerbaijan, and this must be seen as a great asset. Aliyev also
thanked Turkey for supporting Azerbaijan in difficult times.
The main item on Aliyev's agenda was the situation in the
Caucasus. Having commended Turkey's constructive efforts to solve
problems in the region, Aliyev repeated Azerbaijan's support for
the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform (CSCP), initiated
by Turkey (EDM, September 2). On the issue of Azerbaijan-Armenia
relations, Aliyev made a firm statement of the Azerbaijani position
that the current situation of the Karabakh conflict remains the main
obstacle to peace in the Caucasus. He criticized Armenia's occupation
of 20 percent of Azeri lands and its policy of ethnic cleansing. He
reiterated that a solution to the problem rests on the restoration
of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and Armenia's compliance with
the resolutions of international organizations including the United
Nations (ANKA, November 6).
Aliyev's visit comes in the wake of a meeting between Aliyev and
his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian in Moscow on November 2,
sponsored by Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev. Despite their
pledge in a joint declaration to pursue a political settlement,
the two leaders failed to specify any concrete steps with regard
to confidence-building measures, which fell short of the Kremlin's
expectations (EDM, November 4). Nonetheless, the Turkish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) welcomed this declaration and viewed it
as a successful example of multiple parties working toward a common
goal. Some Turkish observers interpreted Russia's growing involvement
in the resolution of the Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute as a loss of
leverage for Ankara and criticized Turkey's reactionary policy
(www.asam.org.tr, ASAM Daily Brief, November 6).
A press release by the MFA emphasized that Turkey's past efforts--such
as the proposal for the CSCP and the trilateral meeting between the
foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia sponsored by
Turkey--had paved the way for the Moscow talks (Press Release: 189,
www.mfa.gov, November 5). In his meeting with Aliyev, Gul received
first hand information about the Azeri-Armenian talks in Moscow. Gul
praised the declaration as the beginning of a new era for bringing
peace to the region (Anadolu Ajansi, November 5). It is a common
practice for the leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan to inform each other
about any meetings with Armenia not involving the other party (Star,
September 11).
The Turkish daily Zaman ran a story that maintained that Gul had
proposed another trilateral summit in Istanbul, which would bring
together Gul, Aliyev, and Sarkisian. Having received a positive
response from Aliyev, Gul was reportedly going to extend an invitation
to the Armenian side. Speaking to Zaman, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov also confirmed that such a proposal had been made
(Zaman, November 7). The Turkish MFA spokesperson, however, issued a
statement refuting the idea that it had proposed hosting a trilateral
meeting (www.cnnturk.com, November 7). Zaman nonetheless insisted on
its story and criticized the confusing information over the proposal
coming out of the MFA (Zaman, November 8). The Turkish officials'
stance might have been a result of an attempt to achieve reconciliation
with Armenia through secret diplomacy and their preference for keeping
such a proposal confidential before all the details are worked out.
Another major issue on the agenda during Aliyev's visit was the
growing volume of trade and economic cooperation between the two
countries, in particular in the energy sector. Azerbaijan and Turkey
have developed a partnership in energy transportation, which has
led to the flourishing of economic ties in other fields. Turkish
entrepreneurs have had a vibrant presence in Azerbaijan. The growing
Azerbaijani wealth created by oil revenues, however, has altered the
direction of investments. Recently, Azeri companies started investing
in Turkey, especially in privatization projects. The CEO of the State
Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (Socar) announced the company's
plans for new investments of up to 10 billion dollars in Turkey (Yeni
Safak, January 10). SOCAR and the Palmali Group recently bought 50
percent of Tekfen Insaat, one of Turkey's largest construction firms,
for $520 million (Ihlas News Agency, September 8). Aliyev emphasized
that such investments reflected the growing self-confidence of the
Azeri economy and gave indications that they would continue in the
future. Aliyev also emphasized the high value his administration
attaches to integrating Azerbaijan with the rest of the world. He
noted, however, the importance of achieving full independence in the
economy, which was a prerequisite for political independence (Cihan
News Agency, November 6).
President Gul is due to visit Baku on November 14 to attend the
forthcoming fourth international summit on energy, which will
bring together several heads of state from the region as well
as representatives from the European Union and the U.S. Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza (Zaman, November 7; Azeri
Press Agency, November 7). In the wake of the conflict in Georgia,
discussions on the secure flow of energy from the region, as well as
alternative pipelines carrying oil and gas, will be on the agenda of
the summit.
By Saban Kardas
Eurasia Daily Monitor
Nov 10 2008
DC
On November 5 and 6, after his reelection last month, Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliyev visited Turkey, where he discussed the
developments in the Caucasus, relations with Armenia, and deepening
cooperation between the two countries.
On November 5 he attended a dinner given by his host President Abdullah
Gul and attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other
ministers (Anadolu Ajansi, November 6). On the second day of his visit
Aliyev addressed a session of the Turkish Parliament (www.cnnturk.com,
November 6). The two presidents emphasized the close friendship between
their countries and the importance of Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation for
peace and stability in the Caucasus. The leaders repeated the oft-heard
motto of "one nation, two states" and made references to historical
and cultural ties between the two countries. Aliyev remarked that
no other countries had such close relations as those between Turkey
and Azerbaijan, and this must be seen as a great asset. Aliyev also
thanked Turkey for supporting Azerbaijan in difficult times.
The main item on Aliyev's agenda was the situation in the
Caucasus. Having commended Turkey's constructive efforts to solve
problems in the region, Aliyev repeated Azerbaijan's support for
the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform (CSCP), initiated
by Turkey (EDM, September 2). On the issue of Azerbaijan-Armenia
relations, Aliyev made a firm statement of the Azerbaijani position
that the current situation of the Karabakh conflict remains the main
obstacle to peace in the Caucasus. He criticized Armenia's occupation
of 20 percent of Azeri lands and its policy of ethnic cleansing. He
reiterated that a solution to the problem rests on the restoration
of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and Armenia's compliance with
the resolutions of international organizations including the United
Nations (ANKA, November 6).
Aliyev's visit comes in the wake of a meeting between Aliyev and
his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian in Moscow on November 2,
sponsored by Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev. Despite their
pledge in a joint declaration to pursue a political settlement,
the two leaders failed to specify any concrete steps with regard
to confidence-building measures, which fell short of the Kremlin's
expectations (EDM, November 4). Nonetheless, the Turkish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) welcomed this declaration and viewed it
as a successful example of multiple parties working toward a common
goal. Some Turkish observers interpreted Russia's growing involvement
in the resolution of the Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute as a loss of
leverage for Ankara and criticized Turkey's reactionary policy
(www.asam.org.tr, ASAM Daily Brief, November 6).
A press release by the MFA emphasized that Turkey's past efforts--such
as the proposal for the CSCP and the trilateral meeting between the
foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia sponsored by
Turkey--had paved the way for the Moscow talks (Press Release: 189,
www.mfa.gov, November 5). In his meeting with Aliyev, Gul received
first hand information about the Azeri-Armenian talks in Moscow. Gul
praised the declaration as the beginning of a new era for bringing
peace to the region (Anadolu Ajansi, November 5). It is a common
practice for the leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan to inform each other
about any meetings with Armenia not involving the other party (Star,
September 11).
The Turkish daily Zaman ran a story that maintained that Gul had
proposed another trilateral summit in Istanbul, which would bring
together Gul, Aliyev, and Sarkisian. Having received a positive
response from Aliyev, Gul was reportedly going to extend an invitation
to the Armenian side. Speaking to Zaman, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov also confirmed that such a proposal had been made
(Zaman, November 7). The Turkish MFA spokesperson, however, issued a
statement refuting the idea that it had proposed hosting a trilateral
meeting (www.cnnturk.com, November 7). Zaman nonetheless insisted on
its story and criticized the confusing information over the proposal
coming out of the MFA (Zaman, November 8). The Turkish officials'
stance might have been a result of an attempt to achieve reconciliation
with Armenia through secret diplomacy and their preference for keeping
such a proposal confidential before all the details are worked out.
Another major issue on the agenda during Aliyev's visit was the
growing volume of trade and economic cooperation between the two
countries, in particular in the energy sector. Azerbaijan and Turkey
have developed a partnership in energy transportation, which has
led to the flourishing of economic ties in other fields. Turkish
entrepreneurs have had a vibrant presence in Azerbaijan. The growing
Azerbaijani wealth created by oil revenues, however, has altered the
direction of investments. Recently, Azeri companies started investing
in Turkey, especially in privatization projects. The CEO of the State
Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (Socar) announced the company's
plans for new investments of up to 10 billion dollars in Turkey (Yeni
Safak, January 10). SOCAR and the Palmali Group recently bought 50
percent of Tekfen Insaat, one of Turkey's largest construction firms,
for $520 million (Ihlas News Agency, September 8). Aliyev emphasized
that such investments reflected the growing self-confidence of the
Azeri economy and gave indications that they would continue in the
future. Aliyev also emphasized the high value his administration
attaches to integrating Azerbaijan with the rest of the world. He
noted, however, the importance of achieving full independence in the
economy, which was a prerequisite for political independence (Cihan
News Agency, November 6).
President Gul is due to visit Baku on November 14 to attend the
forthcoming fourth international summit on energy, which will
bring together several heads of state from the region as well
as representatives from the European Union and the U.S. Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza (Zaman, November 7; Azeri
Press Agency, November 7). In the wake of the conflict in Georgia,
discussions on the secure flow of energy from the region, as well as
alternative pipelines carrying oil and gas, will be on the agenda of
the summit.