ABDULLAH GUL: "I HAVE TRIED TO DO MY BEST FOR AZERBAIJAN DURING MY POLITICAL ACTIVITY"
Azeri Press Agency
Sept 8 2008
Azerbaijan
"I sent my bodyguards and vehicle to Armenia through Georgia, not via
Kars in order not to hurt feelings of Azerbaijani People" Ankara. Mayis
Alizadeh-APA. Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s exclusive interview
to APA Turkey bureau
When Armenian president Sargsyan invited his Turkish counterpart
Abdulla Gul to Yerevan to watch football match, one of the main
discussions of the region’s political agenda was the thoughts about
the realization of this visit. Thus, the visit took place and Abdullah
Gul paid a visit to Yerevan. The priority for media was Gul’s first
interview about his impressions related to this one-day visit.
-You gave information to media about your visit to Armenia. What do
you want to say about your visit to Azerbaijan?
First of all I welcome all my Azerbaijani brothers. I know that
they follow this visit with great interest and I want them to feel
certain of us. I do believe in importance of being two states and one
nation and its further continuation. When we look at the world map
we see Caucasus as small place, but there are many problems in this
region. We saw conflict between Georgia and Russia a month ago. It
is impossible to keep silence, we should initiate and take serious
measures to solve problems of our region. My visit and the visit
of Prime Minister should be followed within this framework. We have
proposed Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform for this purpose
on time. Important countries of the region should take measures to
solve issues via dialogue. Our Prime Minister Erdogan visited Russia,
Georgia and Azerbaijan and discussed these issues. There was a random
chance during the world qualifying championship. Turkish and Armenian
national teams were at the same group. After this, Armenian president
invited me to Yerevan. It demands courage to say to Turkish President
to come and to watch the match together. We know that there occurs
dashnaks and other groups, which are against this issue. Why did I
receive this invitation? I believed in creation of chance to conduct
discussions to solve problems in the region.
I wanted to seize this occasion for the discussion of Nagorno Karabagh
conflict and problems between Turkey and Armenia. To tell the truth,
I was satisfied with the realization of this visit, because state
figures should measure thrice and cut once and take any decisive step
afterwards. If we freeze the problem, it will be worse and worse. Then
these frozen problems become de facto. Therefore, state figures should
conduct discussions hardily. We all look like each other in this
small land as Caucasus. The majority speaks Turkish in the region or
understands this language – one should move this potential ahead and
find solution to the problems. During my visit, I very openly talked
to president Sargsyan on these issues. I talked to him more openly
about all what I am talking to you and stressed the importance of
resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Sargsyan also supported solution to the problems in the region and
expressed satisfaction with our participation in this process. They
supported Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform, assessed it
as an opportunity for the solution to the problems in the region and
stressed the importance of conducting dialogue after the developments
in Georgia. Sargsyan stated that he had met with Ilham Aliyev and would
meet henceforth. I told Sargsyan that we should be realist. Dialogue
should be conducted to overcome of the problems. If it is not conducted
at present, it will be 30-40 years later and it will cause problems
to the future generations. I saw that Sargsyan spoke sincerely. I left
Yerevan with great pleasure. There can be those, who were against this
visit in Turkey and Azerbaijan and I respect them. I am sure that these
initiatives will achieve good results and they will also be happy. 50
million people died during World War II in Europe, but Germany and
France are closer allies at present. We should look at the future,
not only past and should open doors for the future. I will visit Baku
on Wednesday and share my opinions with President Ilham Aliyev there.
-Unlike the previous president, Sargsyan started to carry on different
policy. Kocharian declared Turkey as enemy, but Sargsyan shows himself
as pro-Western politician. Had you consulted with the West before
visiting Armenia?
I passed an independent decision. No country influenced on me in
regard to my decision. However, I am pleased to receive estimation
from several countries. Armenia has understood that it is obliged
to cooperate with neighboring countries, as well as the whole
world. Otherwise, there will not be peace in the region and Armenia
can be assessed as the country standing on the way of peace. I believe
in good assessment of this chance in the image of Sargsyan. Old policy
should be left behind. We should look forward as regional countries.
-When you were Turkish Foreign Minister and represented Turkey in the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, you always stated that
stated that you carried out reforms in Turkey not for Europe, Brussels,
Strasbourg, but for Turkic peoples. Today, western analysts stress
the importance of deepening of democratic reforms for the solution
of problems. You left a message in this direction in Armenia. Will
you also give any message in Azerbaijan in this regard?
I represented Turkey in the Council of Europe for years. I remember
when Heydar Aliyev demonstrated great decisiveness and made Azerbaijan
become the member of the Council of Europe. Today, Honorable
Ilham Aliyev continues this way. Democracy is not the process to
gain within a day. Turkey has been the member of the Council of
Europe since 1948 and one of the members, which established the
organization. As the reforms are deepened, we are demanded new
ones. Existence of democracy will require further deepening of
stability in the region and cooperation between the countries and
increase of welfare of peoples. The leadership of Azerbaijan will make
every effort for deepening of democracy in the country not depending
on my any message. I will be very satisfied with the development of
democracy. And at the same time I do believe that President Ilham
Aliyev will also be proud of this.
-Armenia’s "genocide" claims are mostly linked with pressures come
from Armenian Diasporas in the West. Will you succeed to break off
these pressures?
Diaspora should also work for the welfare of Armenia. The
Diaspora should also be glad for Armenia’s endeavors to establish
good-neighborly relations with its neighbors. I convey my best regards
and respect to Azerbaijani People through APA. Let them always feel
certain of us. We are always with Azerbaijan. The problem of Azerbaijan
is the problem of my own and there can be no doubt about it. That’s
why I am visiting Baku.