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TURKIC LEADERS COMMIT TO FURTHERING TIES
Azernews, November 22, 2006
 Leaders of Turkic states met in Anatolia, Turkey on Friday to forge closer ties, advance economic development and mull ways of promoting peace and stability around the world.
The eighth summit of Turkic states was attended by the presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Turkmenistan joined the event on the level of its embassy in Turkey.
Uzbekistan did not delegate any officials to the summit. Turkish media explained this by the outstanding differences between the two countries on certain issues.
Turkish President Ahmed Necdet Sezer. said in his opening remarks that the summit marks a new stage for Turkic states. He said cooperation among these countries' entities is inevitable amid the ongoing changes taking place in the world.
"Our further cooperation should be based on mutual benefits. The Gars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway will be built, which will play the role of a bridge among Turkic nations."
Touching on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, Sezer said his country has always stood beside Azerbaijan and will continue supporting Baku on the issue.
"The developments ongoing in the region are posing major obstacles to regional security and closer cooperation. The Garabagh conflict should be resolved swiftly to promote peace and interaction in South Caucasus."
President Sezer said that as a country that has long been subject to terror itself, Turkey shares Azerbaijan's tribulations and remains committed to large-scale cooperation with this country.
Sezer called on Turkish major companies to boost investments in the fraternal Turkic states.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressing the summit, said such meetings provide an opportunity to foster new forms of cooperation in the Turkic world. He emphasized that Turkic states have been independent for 15 years (since the collapse of the
Soviet Union).
"Although it has been challenging to gain and safeguard our independence, we succeeded in this. The difficulties are left behind."
Aliyev recalled Turkey's support for Turkic countries in the early years of independence. These countries are currently at the stage of development, with Azerbaijan being among leaders,
he said.
The president said that the stronger Turkic states are economically, the sooner they will be able to solve their problems. "A problem faced by any Turkic-speaking country should be that of all Turkic states."
With regard to the Upper Garabagh conflict, President Aliyev underscored Armenia's aggression, which drove over a
million Azeris out of their homes. He said Azerbaijan could demand much from Armenia today.
"We can say that the Irevan (present-day Yerevan) Khannate used to belong to Azerbaijan. But today it is on a different map. We are not putting forward such claims and support freeing our land by peaceful means. But hopes for this are being increasingly shattered."
resolutions on the Armenian forces' unconditional withdrawal from the occupied territories have not been enforced so far. A similar resolution of the Council of Europe is not being implemented either.
"Armenia's policy of aggression has caused undesirable situation in the region," Aliyev said.
Speaking of joint economic projects, the head of state highly assessed Kazakhstan's joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) main export pipeline exporting Caspian oil to world markets.
He emphasized that the Gars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku line will create a direct railway link between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Moreover, it will link Central Asia to Turkey.
President Aliyev said his country backs Turkey's admission to the European Union. He also said Baku is concerned over the pressure Turkey faces in its membership bid.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, in his remarks, spoke of the unity of Turkic nations. He suggested that the Council of Elders be set up and Turkey's former president Suleyman Demirel be elected its chairman.
Kyrgyz leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev, in his address, cited the importance of expanding political, economic and cultural relations among Turkic states. He proposed to establish a joint entity to advance economic ties and emission of securities.
The participants adopted the Anatolia Declaration in conclusion of discussions. The signatories expressed confidence that the summit would give an impetus to further interaction and closer cooperation in Eurasia. The Turkic leaders emphasized the importance of joint combat against armament, drug trafficking and other threats.
The heads of state backed stepping up the implementation of joint bilateral and multi-lateral projects aimed at deepening trade and economic collaboration, in particular, in the fields of industry, agriculture, transport, communications and tourism."
The last summit of this kind was held in the Azeri capital in 2000.
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December 2006,
Issue No. 44
Previous Issues
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AZERBAIJANI ANSWER TO OIL GLUT: BATHE IN IT
International Herald Tribune, November 28, 2006
NAFTALAN, Azerbaijan: Outside this improbable spa in a remote part of the former Soviet Union, oil rigs bob on a hardscrabble plain of rocks, shrubs and rusting industrial equipment that could easily pass for a stretch of West Texas.
Inside, Ramil Mutukhov, a lanky 25- year-old, prepares to be pampered and preened, scrubbed and peeled in a bath of pure crude oil. He undresses, hangs his trousers and sweatshirt on a peg, pulls off socks and underwear and folds up a wad of brown paper towels. He will need those later.
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