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AZERI PRESIDENT, TURKISH PM COMMENT ON GAS PROJECT, VISA, ARMENIA
Turan news agency
Sept 12 2012
Azerbaijan
Qabala, 12 September: During the talks with Prime Minister Erdogan,
the Turkish side was informed about the situation around the Karabakh
settlement. Azerbaijan thanks Turkey for its support in this matter.
This was said by the head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at a joint news
conference with the Turkish prime minister in [Azerbaijan's] Qabala.
A special place in the talks belonged to the issue of economic
cooperation, with the priority at the energy sector. "After the meeting
in Izmir important events happened; we signed an agreement on the TANAP
[gas pipeline] project, which has received a lot of support in the
international arena. I hope that it will be implemented in five years
and Azerbaijani gas will go through Turkey to Europe," said Aliyev.
Another important project is the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad. Some
neighbouring countries and partners want to join this project and it
is a very positive development, Aliyev said.
Another issue discussed was military-technical cooperation; in this
field there has been a great advancement in recent years.
Negotiations on all these issues were a success and the discussions
were held with full understanding and support to each other, said
Aliyev.
In turn, the Turkish prime minister said today that bilateral trade
is 3.5 billion dollars a year, and in 2015 it will reach 5 billions,
and by 2020 this figure will reach 20 billions.
He recognized the importance of the development of economic cooperation
on the TANAP project. He also cited the joint TASMUS project involved
in the field of defence communications.
The railroad between [Azerbaijan's exclave] Naxcivan and [Turkey's]
Igdir will be also important because it will connect these border
regions of the two countries, Erdogan said.
During the briefing, Ilham Aliyev was asked about the possibility
of lifting the visa regime for citizens of Turkey. Aliyev said that
the topic was discussed and the sides decided "to gradually achieve
this goal". Thus, for certain categories of people - businessmen,
scientists and famous figures - special treatment will be applied.
After settling internal procedures and mechanisms, Turkish citizens
will be able to visit Azerbaijan without a visa.
On the question of TANAP, Aliyev said that this project is open to
third countries that may share in it.
As to the further route of gas after Turkey, it can go to Europe via
Bulgaria or Greece. These are technical issues and now [Azerbaijan's
state oil company] SOCAR is discussing them with its partners "to
choose the safest and most cost-effective route", said Aliyev.
In conclusion, Erdogan was asked about Ankara's position on the
Karabakh conflict settlement and the probability of opening the border
with Armenia. The Turkish prime minister said that until a solution
to the conflict is found "and the issue of release of one or two
areas is resolved, the issue of opening the borders cannot stand".
"Our position is that Armenians must withdraw from all the occupied
territories, and we will continue to support Azerbaijan and its just
position," concluded Erdogan.
From: Baghdasarian
Turan news agency
Sept 12 2012
Azerbaijan
Qabala, 12 September: During the talks with Prime Minister Erdogan,
the Turkish side was informed about the situation around the Karabakh
settlement. Azerbaijan thanks Turkey for its support in this matter.
This was said by the head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at a joint news
conference with the Turkish prime minister in [Azerbaijan's] Qabala.
A special place in the talks belonged to the issue of economic
cooperation, with the priority at the energy sector. "After the meeting
in Izmir important events happened; we signed an agreement on the TANAP
[gas pipeline] project, which has received a lot of support in the
international arena. I hope that it will be implemented in five years
and Azerbaijani gas will go through Turkey to Europe," said Aliyev.
Another important project is the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad. Some
neighbouring countries and partners want to join this project and it
is a very positive development, Aliyev said.
Another issue discussed was military-technical cooperation; in this
field there has been a great advancement in recent years.
Negotiations on all these issues were a success and the discussions
were held with full understanding and support to each other, said
Aliyev.
In turn, the Turkish prime minister said today that bilateral trade
is 3.5 billion dollars a year, and in 2015 it will reach 5 billions,
and by 2020 this figure will reach 20 billions.
He recognized the importance of the development of economic cooperation
on the TANAP project. He also cited the joint TASMUS project involved
in the field of defence communications.
The railroad between [Azerbaijan's exclave] Naxcivan and [Turkey's]
Igdir will be also important because it will connect these border
regions of the two countries, Erdogan said.
During the briefing, Ilham Aliyev was asked about the possibility
of lifting the visa regime for citizens of Turkey. Aliyev said that
the topic was discussed and the sides decided "to gradually achieve
this goal". Thus, for certain categories of people - businessmen,
scientists and famous figures - special treatment will be applied.
After settling internal procedures and mechanisms, Turkish citizens
will be able to visit Azerbaijan without a visa.
On the question of TANAP, Aliyev said that this project is open to
third countries that may share in it.
As to the further route of gas after Turkey, it can go to Europe via
Bulgaria or Greece. These are technical issues and now [Azerbaijan's
state oil company] SOCAR is discussing them with its partners "to
choose the safest and most cost-effective route", said Aliyev.
In conclusion, Erdogan was asked about Ankara's position on the
Karabakh conflict settlement and the probability of opening the border
with Armenia. The Turkish prime minister said that until a solution
to the conflict is found "and the issue of release of one or two
areas is resolved, the issue of opening the borders cannot stand".
"Our position is that Armenians must withdraw from all the occupied
territories, and we will continue to support Azerbaijan and its just
position," concluded Erdogan.
From: Baghdasarian