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ANKARA: Azeri envoy confirms strong relations with Turkey

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  • ANKARA: Azeri envoy confirms strong relations with Turkey

    Anadolu Agency, Turkey
    April 23 2009


    Azeri envoy confirms strong relations with Turkey


    Ankara, 23 April: Azerbaijan's ambassador in Ankara, Zakir Hashimov,
    said [on] Thursday [23 April] Turkey and Azerbaijan share relations
    based on the idea of "two states and one nation".

    Speaking at the 23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Day
    reception held at the Turkish parliament, Ambassador Hashimov said,
    "Could there be a crisis between two brotherly countries?".

    Answering questions of journalists, Hashimov said that "as an
    independent state, Turkey has the right to establish bilateral
    relations with any country it wishes. However, Turkey-Armenia
    relations should be parallel to the developments taking place in Upper
    Karabakh".

    "President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made
    assurances to us in this direction," Hashimov said.

    Reminding the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk that "Azerbaijan's
    happiness is our happiness" and the words of late Azerbaijani
    President Heydar Aliyev that "Turkey and Azerbaijan are two states of
    one nation", Ambassador Hashimov said that Turkish-Azerbaijani
    relations can not go out of such principles and no one can disturb
    such principles.

    Stressing that windows between Turkey and Azerbaijan are open,
    Hashimov said that the Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev will
    pay a visit to Turkey on Friday.

    "President Gul and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had a positive
    phone conversation today (Thursday)," Hashimov said.

    Asked about when Azerbaijan will accept the opening of the
    Turkish-Armenian border, Hashimov said that Armenia must withdraw from
    five towns out of seven and Azerbaijani refugees must go back to their
    homes in these territories. "Only then will Azerbaijan accept the
    opening of the Turkish-Armenian border".

    Armenian troops must also withdraw from the remaining two towns and
    Upper Karabakh and Azerbaijani refugees must be able to go back to
    their homes in these regions, Hashimov said.

    We can then discuss the status, Hashimov also said.
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