Official reception has been offered in honor of Abdullah Gul, the President of Turkey on behalf of Ilham Aliyev

The official reception has been offered in honor of Abdullah Gul, the President of the Republic of Turkey on behalf of President Ilham Aliyev at the Gulustan Palace.

Heads of state delivered the speeches at the reception.

Speech by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Mister President, my dear brother!

- Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen!

I greet you, dear Mister President, cordially once again in Azerbaijan. I extend once again my welcome to you. I attach a high importance to your visit. This is the visit of the friend and brother. There is no doubt that this visit will impact positively on the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. This visit has a tremendous importance in expanding our future co-operation.

The ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan have a special character. This is the relationship between two friendly and brotherly peoples. Throughout the centuries, our peoples lived and created together. They have always supported and relied on each other. They relied on each other. After Azerbaijan has restored its state independence, Turkey was the first to recognize us as the independent country. Since that moment up to now, the ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan have developed very swiftly. They covered practically all fields and are elevated today to the level of strategic alliance.

During these years, excellent results have been gained in political, economic, cultural as well as in all other fields. We support always each other in international organizations. We have always the same position in all international organizations. All times, Turkey and Azerbaijan have demonstrated the common position either in United Nations, or in the Organization of Islamic Conference and other organizations. Our views related to the processes taking place in the region are the same. There is no any divergence in our opinion. We conduct constant consultations, and the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan play the decisive role in broadening the regional co-operation. Indeed, as a result of the initiatives put forward by us, today, an absolutely new and positive situation is formed in the region.

Regional co-operation processes continue in positive way. Concrete projects initiated by us yield their results and bring prosperity and security to the region. Among them, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has a special place. Indeed, this pipeline helps to deepen the co-operation in the region today. In the regional context, all countries which participated in the construction of this pipeline benefit from it.

As a result of the construction of this pipeline, the geopolitical and geo-economic situation in the region has changed to the positive one. Following this stage, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and other projects have fostered further our friendship and brotherhood. Today, this is already a reality. This reality impacts positively on all processes taking place in the whole region. Our – Turkey and Azerbaijan’s - influence capabilities are expanding. I am confident that our position will strengthen further in the years to come. This is already a kind of pathway and corridor. This corridor helps us to implement new projects. Today, we had extensive exchange of views with you on this topic. All plans are envisaged for joint activities in next years and reciprocal steps will be made.

I am very pleased that our strategic alliance and relationship continue so successfully. Today, a very important and historic document was signed for the future development of these ties. The treaty on strategic partnership and mutual assistance has been signed between Turkey and Azerbaijan. As a result of the implementation of this treaty, there is no doubt that the friendly and brotherly relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan will strengthen further. This treaty has a crucial importance and I am confident that all of us will see these excellent results.

Today, at the same time, we had extensive exchange of views on joint activities of Turkic countries. Our positions coincide in this issue. We base our work on the mutual understanding in all issues.

My dear brother, it is a great honor and big happiness for all of us to see you in Baku. We know you as a great friend of Azerbaijan. During your previous activities, you have visited Azerbaijan many times. You came to our country on several occasions in your position of the President. My visits to Turkey have also the constant character. It should be that way. We are members of the same family. Our history is the main condition for the current and future development of our relations. This is a big and strong foundation. All such factors as history, culture, religion, language and political interests that unite us create a rare situation. I think that the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have no analogical example in the world. This relationship strengthens not only our country, but impacts positively on the processes taking place in the region and the world.

I welcome sincerely once again you as well as all our sisters and brothers who came to Azerbaijan together with you. I wish you and the entire Turkish people happiness and new successes. Thank you.

Speech by the President of Turkey Abdullah Gul

- Dear Mister President, my dear brother Ilham Aliyev!

- Dear guests!

Today, I am very delighted to be in Azerbaijan and pay this official visit. I express my gratitude to all my Azerbaijani brothers in your quality for this sincere friendship, brotherhood and warm hospitality extended to me and my delegation since the first moments of arrival.

The relations of friendship and brotherhood between Turkey and Azerbaijan are higher than those which can be described by words because all of us know that we are the parts of the great nation. We are one nation of two different states. In this respect, our ties should be as the relations between two states which have one nation and the same roots, language, religion and background.

Since the moment when Azerbaijan restored its independence, the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have continued always to be on such level, understanding and spirit. During previous years also, the entire Turkish youth had Baku and Azerbaijan in their hearts and souls. At that time, they might not have been able to speak about it openly or travel here. Today, we know that two countries are in great solidarity in the political, economic, cultural, educational, security and defense fields as well as in joint training and mutual assistance for our Armed Forces. Both countries behave as the same country at the international level. Both states support each other with closed eyes and will continue to do so.

No doubt, the problem of Azerbaijan is the problem of Turkey. The trouble of Turkey will be the trouble of Azerbaijan. We will be always proud of your successes. Our successes will not be just the source of pride for us, but also for you.

The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the liberation of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan are not just your issue. This is an issue for all of us. We conduct joint discussions and lead common activities on that. In order to establish stability, peace and prosperity as well as to end the occupation in the Caucasus, Turkey will continue to pay all its possible efforts.

Upon my each arrival to Baku, I witnessed truly big changes in the city and the speedy renovation process. The same can be said about this visit. In the framework of this visit, we had meetings in your summer residence in midday. Then, while being on the route to the Alley of Honor to pay tribute to the tomb of Heydar Aliyev, your late father and heading to the meeting in the Milli Majlis, we felt very proud by what we have seen in Baku. The newly built buildings and constructed roads demonstrate clearly progress and development in Azerbaijan and Baku. I would like to congratulate all of you, and Your Excellency in the lead.

Daylight is beautiful in Baku, but nighttime is even more attractive. Of course, we will live this beauty on our way back. Everything will be in lights. These issues are not just the matter of pride for you, but also for us. Successes gained by all brotherly republics and states of this great nation are the source of pride for all of us.

We implemented jointly the giant projects. Sometimes, all these achievements were branded as a dream. Those who have been saying about the impossibility of these projects witness astonishingly this unity between two countries today. We have oil and gas pipelines in the field of energy, railway connection in the field of transport. We connect already Nakhchevan to Igdir. All these are the biggest projects. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway does not link just three countries. In fact, it connects Central Asia and China to England. Upon the completion of Marmara Ray line, trains will depart from Baku and go directly to London through the La Manche strait. All of us know about the big interest of Kazakhstan and China to this project. We have laid its foundations jointly in Kars. God willing, we will celebrate together its opening in 2012. Highways, autobahns and all these facilities will continue to link our countries.

Your investments in Turkey and our investments here are a source of jealousy for everyone. All these issues are the activities that can make this region be exemplary for everyone. I am proud of all these achievements. I do believe that our solidarity will cause the elaboration of more attractive projects.

The treaty on strategic partnership and mutual assistance signed by us today envisages us to be in solidarity and equality in each issue. This treaty is very important for the entire region and the world. Dispositions set out in this treaty will bring peace, stability and well-being as well as cause the large economic revival.

I express once again the love and affection feelings of the Turkish people to all Azerbaijani brothers. Happy Ramadan to you! Let these beautiful celebration months bring benefits not only to Turkic republics and Islamic countries, but the entire mankind.

I stress my gratitude once again on behalf of my friends and the delegation for this warm hospitality extended to us.