BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 22. Today, much was also
said about transport and logistics. Cooperation in this area
between our countries is already of a long-term nature — I would
even say strategic — not only for us and our neighbors, but also
for a much wider geography, said President Ilham Aliyev during a
press statement with President of Turkmenistan Serdar
Berdimuhamedov.
Statement by President Ilham Aliyev
- Dear Serdar Gurbangulyevich, distinguished guests, dear
friends. I am glad to once again welcome our dear guest, the
President of Turkmenistan, on his state visit.
I would like to once again express my gratitude to Mr. President
for accepting my invitation and visiting Azerbaijan. I am confident
that this visit will serve to further strengthen the friendly and
brotherly relations between our countries.
Today, negotiations were held both in expanded format and in a
one-on-one meeting. Many issues of bilateral cooperation were
discussed, and further ways to develop our partnership were
outlined.
I would like to once again express my gratitude to Turkmenistan
and my dear brother Arkadag, Gurbanguly Malikgulyyevich
Berdimuhamedov, for their assistance in the restoration of
Garabagh. In July last year, during his visit, he put forward the
initiative to build a mosque in the city of Fuzuli, and
construction has already begun. This is yet another testimony to
the sincere and friendly attitude of Turkmenistan, its National
Leader, and the entire brotherly people of Turkmenistan toward
Azerbaijan.
I am also grateful to Serdar Gurbangulyevich for our
cooperation. As I already mentioned, today we held a detailed
exchange of views on many issues. Specific instructions were given.
I am confident that by the next meeting of the Intergovernmental
Commission, which will be held next month in Turkmenistan, these
instructions will be thoroughly worked out, and we will proceed to
implement new joint tasks and projects.
Our relations are built on a solid foundation of historical
ties, cultural connections, and spiritual bonds. We regularly host
performances by creative collectives. Just recently, at the
beginning of this month, the Days of Culture of Azerbaijan were
held in both Ashgabat and Arkadag. Last year, cultural figures from
Turkmenistan visited us for the Days of Culture in Baku and
Ganja.
I should also note that Baku and Ashgabat are twin cities, just
as Arkadag and Fuzuli are. All of this demonstrates our unity. We
strive to fill our cooperation with concrete content and to deepen
our interaction.
I would like to once again express my gratitude to the Turkmen
side for their active support for Azerbaijan’s accession as a full
member of the Consultative Meeting of Heads of State of Central
Asia. I regard this event as historic. Although we are not
geographically part of Central Asia, our cultural and historical
ties, as well as the practical issues we are addressing today
regarding regional connectivity and transport-logistics
cooperation, naturally create the prerequisites for considering the
broader Central Asian region as a single geopolitical and
geo-economic space. Of course, from the very first day, we have
actively participated in this multilateral format.
Today, much was also said about transport and logistics.
Cooperation in this area between our countries is already of a
long-term nature — I would even say strategic — not only for us and
our neighbors, but also for a much wider geography. There are not
many reliable and secure transport routes in the world today that
connect cooperating countries. This is a great achievement. In this
context, transport and logistics projects cannot be considered in
isolation from political interaction. Without political
cooperation, no geographical conditions alone would have allowed us
to combine our efforts. We have agreed to deepen coordination in
the transport and logistics sphere in order to increase cargo flows
— which are already growing as a result of our joint efforts — and
to attract cargo from third countries. Therefore, this area will
remain one of the priority directions of both bilateral and
multilateral cooperation.
Of course, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are two countries with
vast mineral and energy resources. In this regard, we are focused
on combining our efforts in cooperation.
I would also like to congratulate the brotherly Turkmen people
and its leadership on their significant achievements in
socio-economic development. Over many years, I have visited
Turkmenistan on numerous occasions and have witnessed the
progressive development of our brotherly country — how cities are
becoming more beautiful and infrastructure, including tourism
infrastructure, is being created. All this reflects the wisdom of
the leadership and the fact that national interests are the top
priority. As your friends and brothers, we always rejoice in your
successes, including on the international arena, and we have always
supported and will continue to support Turkmenistan’s policy of
neutrality, which has already gained broad international
recognition and support.
Once again, dear Mr. President, I welcome you and ask you to
convey my warmest wishes to my dear brother Arkadag and to the
entire brotherly people of Turkmenistan.
