DR. AKKAN SUVER: WE HAVE HIGH-LEVEL COOPERATION WITH AZERBAIJAN
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 5 2007
"Marmara Group Foundation in conjunction with the Black Sea University
Foundation is going to organize an event "Historical heritage of Black
Sea" in june this year. We will organize the 10th Eurasian Economic
Summit in Istanbul. Ex-president Ion Iliescu will represent Romania
at the meeting," Dr. Akkan Suver, president of Marmara Group told
the APA’s East Europe bureau in Romania.
He said that he had meetings with former Foreign Minister, deputy chief
of Senate Teodor Melescanu, ex-presidents of Romania Ion Iliescu and
Emil Konstantinesku.
"We have partnership relations with Black Sea University Foundation.
We are working on economic, social projects to be implemented
jointly with our Romanian partners. One of these projects is called
"Happiness of seven seas". You know that we had projects covering
five seas – Mediterranean, Caspian, Aegean, Marmara and Black seas,
Romania included two more seas. We will continue negotiations during
the Eurasian Economic Summit. We also discussed construction of a
mosque in Bucharest and Romanian church in Istanbul," he said.
Akkan Suver said that there are no serious activities concerning
Black sea region.
"Cooperation with Black Sea University Foundation will be the
first step in the sphere. Cooperation with Azerbaijan is of my first
proposals. Turkey should be everywhere wherever Azerbaijan is. Turkey
and Azerbaijan plan to hold joint activities on the theme of women
with Georgia. I consider that we can organize a lot of activities in
the framework of Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization. Besides, Black Sea NGO movement can be a
splendid format. Our Bucharest visit created new opportunities for
this. Turkey and Azerbaijan can realize joint activities in economic,
cultural and social spheres," he said.
Mr.Suver also commented on the Marmara Group’s implementing projects
with Armenia.
"We put forward the initiative for clarifying Armenian Diaspora’s
claims on Armenian genocide and propagandizing facts of occupation of
Azerbaijan’s region Karabakh. "On this purpose we organized a group
of Turkish MPs, businessmen, scientific and culture figures, lawyers
and journalist women. Armenian side took the same step. Azerbaijan
Committee on Women Problems, late Zahra Guliyeva organized another
group. But Armenians delayed the meeting. We invited them to Turkey
where a debate on women contribution to peace was held. Then debates
in the peaceful atmosphere were held in Istanbul and Yerevan. Then
Austria’s Bruno Krayski Fund offered its contribution in the
organization of meetings and we accepted them. The next meeting
was to b held in Vienna but in the end Armenian party rejected to
participate. Most probably it was Armenian Diaspora’s work". Akkan
Suver emphasized Azerbaijan cooperates with Marmara Group very
actively." Azerbaijan – Turkey Businessmen Association conferred
"Gizil Charkh" award on US and Turkey former presidents Bill Klinton
and Suleyman Damirel , Azerbaijan and Georgia’ presidents Ilham
Aliyev and Mikhail Saakashvili and Turkey Prime Minister Rajab
Tayyib Ardoghangor their contribution to the construction of Baku-
Tbilisi- Ceyhan pipeline. On April 17, a meeting on this occasion
is to be held. I am pleased to say that this award was conferred on
Azerbaijan-American Trade Chamber and Turkey’s Marmara Group too. Our
organization is a member of World Azerbaijanis Forum and has good
relations with State Committee for Religious Committees. Ataturk
Baku Centre published two my books. As you know Heydar Aliyev was
honorary chairman of Marmara Group. When he died we offered this post
to Ilham Aliyev .We were very glad he accepted to hold this post. We
will continue to develop our special relations with Azerbaijan.