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TRANSPORT PROJECTS TO BOOST COOPERATION AMONG TURKIC STATES
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Aug 16 2013
Turkish President Abdullah Gul (2nd L) poses with the leaders of
Turkic states, including Azerbaijani President Ä°lham Aliyev (3rd L),
during the Third Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking
States in Gabala.
16 August 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL
President Abdullah Gul has stated that the Turkic speaking states
are going to change the regional order with transportation projects
developed and implemented together.
Attending the Third Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic
Speaking States (CCTS), also known as the Turkic Council, hosted by
Azerbaijan in the city of Gabala on Aug. 15 and 16, Gul said that the
center of global economic power is shifting from the North Atlantic
area to the Asia-Pacific region and that "the establishment of the
modern Silk Road will contribute to the growth of the welfare level
of the Turkic world."
Noting that the council member states are located in a very important
geographic area that links Europe to China and Southeastern Asia
via the Caucasus and Central Asia, President Gul said: "Turkey has
already been working for a while on reliable railways that can be
alternatives to the available lines between the East and the West. The
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is the main branch of the modern Silk
Road developed with Azerbaijan. The work to realize this huge project
that is going to change the dynamics of the region continues and we are
doing our best to complete it as soon as possible." Gul spoke at the
Council of Heads of States, held on the sidelines of the Third Summit
of the Turkic Council on Friday. He added that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railway project will provide continuous, uninterrupted and rapid
transport opportunities among the Turkic Council member states and
that it will make a significant contribution to the development of
the economic and trade relations in the region.
He also said that the establishment of a ferryboat connection
between Baku harbor, Kazakhstan's Aktau harbor and Turkmenistan's
TurkmenbaÅ~_ı harbor would be an asset.
Azerbaijani President Ä°lham Aliyev also said in his remarks in that
the projects being implemented in the fields of transportation
and energy cannot be separated, as the construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline paved the way for the establishment
of an international energy corridor and that led to the opening of
the transportation corridor in the region.
"For the first time in history, the Caspian Sea has been linked
to the Mediterranean Sea and this historic event, which is a great
achievement, at the same time also led to the implementation of other
significant projects," Aliyev was quoted as saying by Trend news agency
on Friday. He also said that these projects bring the member nations
much closer and contribute to the development of their economies.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev also noted the need to develop
transportation links between the states of the Turkic Council, which,
he considers will be the basis for the development of economic ties.
Nazarbayev said that Kazakhstan plans a 10-fold increase in goods
transit by 2050 and is working to meet this goal. He also noted
that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project will create many new
opportunities in the Turkic speaking states.
Kyrgyzstan's President Almazbek Atambayev said in his remarks at the
council meeting that the Turkic speaking states are becoming a model
of economic development. Underlining the importance of implementing
joint projects in the region Atambayev said that these projects would
ensure a good future. "The unity of the Turkic-speaking countries
that we are creating will yield very good results in future. We
want these states to develop, prosper and reach greater results,"
Atambayev was quoted as saying.
Calling the Turkic Council Summits a powerful indicator of the unity
and equality that are growing as a result of the common desires of the
Turkic countries in the region, Gul made similar comments, saying,
"The decisions made under this roof and the messages sent out serve
the joint desires and expectations of our nations."
"Today, the values that make us the representatives of the same
ethnicity are not merely the common language, religion, history,
culture and our common fatherland, but also the common desire and
willingness to build our bright future together. The harmony between
our nations was never based on having overcome any discrimination or
conflict," Gul said.
Gul also noted that the cooperation and solidarity created among the
Turkic speaking countries will doubtless contribute to the peace,
stability and welfare in the Afro-Eurasia region.
Following the council meeting, the leaders of the four member Turkic
speaking states -- Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey
-- signed the Gabala statement codifying the agreement for mutual
cooperation and coordination among the member countries in different
fields.
Karabakh preferred as next Azerbaijani host of Summit of Turkic Council
Mentioning the importance of diplomatic unity and political
cohesiveness among the Turkic speaking nations, Gul expressed his wish
that when Azerbaijan next hosts the Summit of the Turkic Council,
that it would be in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani territory that is
currently occupied and controlled by its neighboring country, Armenia.
Noting the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as the primary issue on the
foreign affairs agenda of the whole Turkic world, Gul said that the
occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands is "not acceptable"
and that Ankara will continue to do its utmost until the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict restores the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. "Until this occupation and armed extortion ends,
giving support to you is part of our brotherhood commitment."
The next Summit of the Turkic Council is scheduled to be held in
Turkey and Gul said, "Our biggest desire is to see all the Turkic
states represented as a whole at these summits and we still hope that
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will join us for the next meeting."
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action;jsessionid=C0B20EB00 39B27094AF1BD3D9DCE2315?newsId=323740&columnistId= 0
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Aug 16 2013
Turkish President Abdullah Gul (2nd L) poses with the leaders of
Turkic states, including Azerbaijani President Ä°lham Aliyev (3rd L),
during the Third Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking
States in Gabala.
16 August 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL
President Abdullah Gul has stated that the Turkic speaking states
are going to change the regional order with transportation projects
developed and implemented together.
Attending the Third Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic
Speaking States (CCTS), also known as the Turkic Council, hosted by
Azerbaijan in the city of Gabala on Aug. 15 and 16, Gul said that the
center of global economic power is shifting from the North Atlantic
area to the Asia-Pacific region and that "the establishment of the
modern Silk Road will contribute to the growth of the welfare level
of the Turkic world."
Noting that the council member states are located in a very important
geographic area that links Europe to China and Southeastern Asia
via the Caucasus and Central Asia, President Gul said: "Turkey has
already been working for a while on reliable railways that can be
alternatives to the available lines between the East and the West. The
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is the main branch of the modern Silk
Road developed with Azerbaijan. The work to realize this huge project
that is going to change the dynamics of the region continues and we are
doing our best to complete it as soon as possible." Gul spoke at the
Council of Heads of States, held on the sidelines of the Third Summit
of the Turkic Council on Friday. He added that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railway project will provide continuous, uninterrupted and rapid
transport opportunities among the Turkic Council member states and
that it will make a significant contribution to the development of
the economic and trade relations in the region.
He also said that the establishment of a ferryboat connection
between Baku harbor, Kazakhstan's Aktau harbor and Turkmenistan's
TurkmenbaÅ~_ı harbor would be an asset.
Azerbaijani President Ä°lham Aliyev also said in his remarks in that
the projects being implemented in the fields of transportation
and energy cannot be separated, as the construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline paved the way for the establishment
of an international energy corridor and that led to the opening of
the transportation corridor in the region.
"For the first time in history, the Caspian Sea has been linked
to the Mediterranean Sea and this historic event, which is a great
achievement, at the same time also led to the implementation of other
significant projects," Aliyev was quoted as saying by Trend news agency
on Friday. He also said that these projects bring the member nations
much closer and contribute to the development of their economies.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev also noted the need to develop
transportation links between the states of the Turkic Council, which,
he considers will be the basis for the development of economic ties.
Nazarbayev said that Kazakhstan plans a 10-fold increase in goods
transit by 2050 and is working to meet this goal. He also noted
that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project will create many new
opportunities in the Turkic speaking states.
Kyrgyzstan's President Almazbek Atambayev said in his remarks at the
council meeting that the Turkic speaking states are becoming a model
of economic development. Underlining the importance of implementing
joint projects in the region Atambayev said that these projects would
ensure a good future. "The unity of the Turkic-speaking countries
that we are creating will yield very good results in future. We
want these states to develop, prosper and reach greater results,"
Atambayev was quoted as saying.
Calling the Turkic Council Summits a powerful indicator of the unity
and equality that are growing as a result of the common desires of the
Turkic countries in the region, Gul made similar comments, saying,
"The decisions made under this roof and the messages sent out serve
the joint desires and expectations of our nations."
"Today, the values that make us the representatives of the same
ethnicity are not merely the common language, religion, history,
culture and our common fatherland, but also the common desire and
willingness to build our bright future together. The harmony between
our nations was never based on having overcome any discrimination or
conflict," Gul said.
Gul also noted that the cooperation and solidarity created among the
Turkic speaking countries will doubtless contribute to the peace,
stability and welfare in the Afro-Eurasia region.
Following the council meeting, the leaders of the four member Turkic
speaking states -- Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey
-- signed the Gabala statement codifying the agreement for mutual
cooperation and coordination among the member countries in different
fields.
Karabakh preferred as next Azerbaijani host of Summit of Turkic Council
Mentioning the importance of diplomatic unity and political
cohesiveness among the Turkic speaking nations, Gul expressed his wish
that when Azerbaijan next hosts the Summit of the Turkic Council,
that it would be in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani territory that is
currently occupied and controlled by its neighboring country, Armenia.
Noting the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as the primary issue on the
foreign affairs agenda of the whole Turkic world, Gul said that the
occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands is "not acceptable"
and that Ankara will continue to do its utmost until the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict restores the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. "Until this occupation and armed extortion ends,
giving support to you is part of our brotherhood commitment."
The next Summit of the Turkic Council is scheduled to be held in
Turkey and Gul said, "Our biggest desire is to see all the Turkic
states represented as a whole at these summits and we still hope that
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will join us for the next meeting."
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action;jsessionid=C0B20EB00 39B27094AF1BD3D9DCE2315?newsId=323740&columnistId= 0
From: A. Papazian