Azernews.Az

BAKU – Turkish President Abdullah Gul received Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Artur Rasizada at his temporary residence on Tuesday.

President Gul praised the relationship between the two fraternal counties, saying that bilateral political, economic, security and cultural cooperation was swiftly developing. He also hailed the rapid development in Azerbaijan.

Turkey’s efforts aimed at ensuring stability in the volatile Caucasus region were highlighted at the meeting.

On the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Turkish president noted that the dispute must be settled on the basis of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, saying Turkey has always stood by Azerbaijan on the issue.

Prime Minister Rasizada said the agreements reached during President Gul’s visit would play a tremendous role in the development of friendly and fraternal relations between the two countries.

On the same day, Gul visited some Turkish companies operating in Baku. He participated at the inauguration of the DHT Holding’s steel foundry. Gul said in his remarks that Turkey would continue supporting Azerbaijan’s economic growth, expressing confidence that bilateral relations would further expand.

The Turkish leader also attended a ceremony to open a new building of the Azer-Turk Bank in Baku. He said: "This bank does not catch fish and give it away, it teaches everyone to fish on their own. In other words, it forms businesspeople, entrepreneurs and increases their number."

The Azer-Turk Bank was established in 1995. The bank, which is equally co-owned by Turkish and Azerbaijani financial institutions, has capital stock worth 10 million manats ($12.5 million). The bank has four branches across Azerbaijan.

President Gul also visited the Tezepir Mosque in Baku. Head of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazada briefed the Turkish leader on the reconstruction of the mosque.

Further, Gul boarded a plane heading to Azerbaijan’s northwestern regions. Having visited Zagatala, he headed to Shaki. On his way to Shaki, Gul visited the tombs of poet and Sufi mystic Yunus Emre and his follower Haji Tapdig in the Gakh region.

While in Shaki, the Turkish president visited an Islamic school and a mosque, and toured the palace of a Khan (ruler). Visiting the cemetery of the Turks who fell in battles for Azerbaijan’s liberation from Bolshevik-Dashnak Soviet troops in 1918, Gul said Turkey and Azerbaijan were "two states of a great nation".

"My words are proven by these victims," he said. "The whole world knows that our friendship and unity will always be there."

Gul wrapped up his visit to Azerbaijan later on Tuesday.