Turkish Parliament Speaker meets heads of Azerbaijani Parliament

Turkish Parliament Speaker meets heads of Azerbaijani Parliament

Kazinform, Kazakhstan
Feb 7 2005

Baku. February 7. KAZINFORM. 7 February, Chairman of the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey Bulent Arinc and the accompanied delegation has
been in the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic, Azer-TAj informs.

Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament Murtuz Alaskarov, first deputy speaker
Arif Rahimzade and head of the Parliament Administration Safa Mirzayev
and other officials welcomed the guests.

Heads of the Parliaments of Azerbaijan and Turkey had a one-on-one
meeting.

Then, Mr. Bulent Arinc and the Turkish delegation familiarized with
the Milli Majlis museum.

The delegation of Turkey and Azerbaijan parliamentarians held a
meeting in large.

Speaker Murtuz Alaskarov thanked Mr.Bulent Arinc for visit to
Azerbaijan, wished it to be useful, stating the relations between
Azerbaijan and Turkey, basing on common historical, cultural, religious
and moral roots, develops in the spirit of friendship and fraternity.

After gaining sovereignty, in strengthening of friendship and
fraternity an exclusive role belongs to the nationwide leader of
Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, he said.

Thanks to regular visits of the officials of two countries, the
relations have acquired higher level.

The documents signed during the first visit of President Ilham Aliyev
have founded legislative basis for long-term cooperation.

As a result, the economic links of two countries are developing.Over
thousand Turkish businessmen have invested in numerous fields of
Azerbaijan’s economy.

Realization of the BTC oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline will play important role in development of Azerbaijani and
Turkey, as well as in establishment of stability in the region.

The parliamentary links of two countries also develop.Our legislators
cooperate within the international organizations.

The Council of Europe has adopted a resolution in connection to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where calls Armenia
as an aggressor state, and the regime in the Nagorno Karabakh region
as a separatist.

In discussion of the document, the Turkish deputies have actively
taken part. Mr.Alaskarov updated the guests on the document,
expressed gratitude to the Turkish state and government for support
of Azerbaijan’s position.

Chairman of the Milli Majlis reminded his visit to France last year,
the insidious wishes of the Armenians related to recognition of the
so-called “Armenian genocide” that he condemned during his visit.
Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament also reminded the Khojali massacre
the Armenians have committed in February 26 in 1992 and expressed
hope that the Turkish Parliament would regard this question.

Expressing gratitude for cordial reception and provided information,
Mr.Bulent Arinc said he was pleased to visit the fraternal country.
He reminded huge contributions of the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev in development and strengthening of the relations
between two countries.

Mr.Bulent Arinc expressed consent with inter-parliamentary links,
noting that on 23 April, Turkey would mark the 85th anniversary of
establishment of the Grand National Assembly and wished to see the
Azerbaijan parliamentary delegation in the festivities.

“Turkey always and constantly supports Azerbaijan position in
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and it will remain
unchangeable”, he stated.

Mr.Bulent Arinc said on February 26 the Turkish parliamentarians are
going to hold discussions related to the Khojali genocide.

Speaker of the Turkish Parliament gave high assessment to
activity of the Turkish businessmen in Azerbaijan, noting that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum oil-gas pipelines would
strengthen the two countries economically and play important role in
integration to Europe.

At the meeting, also were exchanged views on a number of other issues
of mutual interest.