“Settling the Zangezur issue will help strengthen the Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations”

Holding a joint press conference with President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Erdoğan said: "Settling the Zangezur issue swiftly will help strengthen the Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan held a joint press conference following their meeting.

Expressing his happiness to be paying his first foreign visit after his inauguration to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan on the same day, President Erdoğan described Türkiye and Azerbaijan as two brotherly countries, and stressed determination to maintain the understanding of 'two states, one nation' in the upcoming period as well.

"ONE OF THE STEPS WE ARE TO TAKE IS RELATED TO THE TÜRKİYE-AZERBAIJAN UNIVERSITY"

President Erdoğan said: "One of the steps we are now taking and will be taking is related to the Türkiye-Azerbaijan University. The head of our Higher Education Council has revised their works today with his counterpart. My brother Ilham has pointed out to the necessity of legal regulations. It is visible that it is about time to establish such a university between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, whereby the Azerbaijani youth will be able to easily come to Türkiye and the Turkish youth will have the opportunity to receive university education in Azerbaijan."

Drawing attention to energy as one of the items topping agenda of the talks held as part of the visit, President Erdoğan stated: "Works have been conducted on this issue about what can be done in the period ahead. As regards the energy-related step, Europe is highly concerned about the gas they will be receiving through Türkiye. They are constantly making requests about it. We are doing and will continue to do our part on this topic. Besides all these issues, steps to be taken in defense industry are of great importance. Concurrently with the steps to be taken in defense industry, we also have responsibilities regarding education in this area. We will continue to fulfil these responsibilities just as we have done thus far."

President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: "Another area of critical importance is agriculture and husbandry, regarding which a joint work is being carried out successfully by our private companies. Also, Turkish contracting companies are implementing successful infrastructure and superstructure projects in Azerbaijan in the areas of transportation. This makes us very happy. We are confident that we will fully implement the Shusha Declaration. There will be no concessions from this."

ZANGEZUR CORRIDOR

Underlining that they have particularly focused on the Zangezur Corridor during their talks in Baku, President Erdoğan said: "A swift settlement of the Zangezur issue will win us two important gains. Taking steps about the highway and the railway will enable much stronger connection between Türkiye and Nakhchivan, between Iğdır and Nakhchivan. The establishment of such connections will also help build much stronger relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan."

Stressing that roads are important indicators of civilization, President Erdoğan said: "If you have roads, it means that you are civilized and that you have reached a civilized level. There is nothing without roads. Regarding infrastructure, the most important issue Azerbaijan is now particularly focused on is roads. I saw it during my previous visit as well that all these tunnels and viaducts attest to Azerbaijan's development following the Karabakh war. We take pride in seeing all this in person. I think about the Baku of 20 years ago and now Karabakh. On the other hand, we are unfortunate to see how the Minsk Trio have stalled all these places. They didn't allow any step to be taken. Yet, if you take matters into your own hands, you can take steps. Azerbaijan managed to do so. My brother Ilham and the nation have done so and managed to reach this point."

PRESIDENT ALIYEV OF AZERBAIJAN: "TÜRKİYE-AZERBAIJAN UNITY IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE STABILITY AND SECURITY OF THE REGION"

President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, for his part, congratulated President Erdoğan on his electoral victory.

Noting that Türkiye has turned into a global power center under the leadership of President Erdoğan, President Aliyev expressed his belief that new opportunities and horizons have emerged in the brotherly relations between Ankara and Baku following the elections in Türkiye.

Stressing the importance of the ties of brotherhood between the two countries, President Aliyev reiterated his gratitude for the spiritual and political support Türkiye lent to Azerbaijan during the Patriotic War, and added: "Türkiye and Azerbaijan will continue to take a shared stand in foreign policy in the future. Our joint activities in foreign policy have importance for the region as well. The Türkiye-Azerbaijan unity is of critical importance to the development, stability and security of the region."

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