Turkey’s Erdogan heads to Baku (UPDATE)
By Sara Rajabova
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will pay a visit to Baku on April 4, said the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are exceptional.
Speaking to journalist before the visit, Erdogan said the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as large projects being implemented by the two countries in the region will be discussed during the meetings in Baku.
Erdogan further said the upcoming visit to Azerbaijan will contribute to consolidating and strengthening the Turkish- Azerbaijani relations.
"The relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are an example for the whole world and the two countries are strategic partners," Erdogan said.
"Turkey and Azerbaijan are implementing very important economic projects in the region, including the Baku- Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Baku-Tbilisi -Ceyhan oil pipeline, as well as TANAP project," he said.
He said these projects are not only regional but also international in nature.
Azerbaijan-Turkey relations have always been strong due to a common culture and history and the mutual intelligibility of Turkish and Azerbaijani languages.
Turkey was the first country in the world to recognize Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 and has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity, and realize its economic potential that arise from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea.
The countries share a short 8km-border, with the Aras River separating Turkey from the Nakhchivan exclave.