Erdogan says Baku visit aims `to remove misunderstandings`
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who
started his visit to Baku on Tuesday said prior to leaving for the
Azerbaijani capital that it aimed to "eliminate misunderstandings
and false impressions", pledging to assure Azerbaijan that its
interests are among Ankara`s priorities.
"No one should have even a shadow of doubt that Turkey will be defending Azerbaijan`s interests," Erdogan said.
The relations between Baku and Ankara cooled down due to Turkey`s policy of pursuing normalization of its strained relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan`s long-time foe.
This is the Turkish premier`s first visit to Baku since the governments of Turkey and Armenia agreed a "road map" in April. The document was the first move by Ankara and Yerevan to mend ties since Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, Turkey`s ally, and Yerevan`s claims on the alleged World War I-era genocide.
According to the Turkish government, Erdogan is accompanied during the visit by the members of his newly-formed cabinet, including the ministers of foreign affairs, transport, energy, and culture and tourism.
Erdogan is scheduled to meet with President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday, to be followed by a joint news conference. The Turkish prime minister will also address the Azerbaijani parliament.
On the same day, Erdogan is due to leave Azerbaijan for Poland. On Saturday, he is expected to head to Sochi for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
"No one should have even a shadow of doubt that Turkey will be defending Azerbaijan`s interests," Erdogan said.
The relations between Baku and Ankara cooled down due to Turkey`s policy of pursuing normalization of its strained relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan`s long-time foe.
This is the Turkish premier`s first visit to Baku since the governments of Turkey and Armenia agreed a "road map" in April. The document was the first move by Ankara and Yerevan to mend ties since Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to Armenian occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, Turkey`s ally, and Yerevan`s claims on the alleged World War I-era genocide.
According to the Turkish government, Erdogan is accompanied during the visit by the members of his newly-formed cabinet, including the ministers of foreign affairs, transport, energy, and culture and tourism.
Erdogan is scheduled to meet with President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday, to be followed by a joint news conference. The Turkish prime minister will also address the Azerbaijani parliament.
On the same day, Erdogan is due to leave Azerbaijan for Poland. On Saturday, he is expected to head to Sochi for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
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