Turkish PM pledges further support to Azerbaijan on Karabakh
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey will "struggle shoulder-to-shoulder" alongside Azerbaijan until the allied country’s Nagorno Karabakh region is liberated from Armenian occupation, Turkish TV channel TRT reported.
20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Nagorno Karabakh, has been occupied by Armenian armed forces since the two South Caucasus republics signed a precarious cease-fire in 1994 following a brutal war.
Erdogan’s statement came on Tuesday at the groundbreaking of an Azerbaijani-Turkish oil refinery, which will be built by Azerbaijani state-owned oil company Socar and Turkey's Turcas. The ceremony, held in the Turkish city of Izmir, was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
"Turkey rejoiced just like our Azerbaijani brethren did upon gaining independence [from the Soviet Union] 20 years ago. And just like the occupation of Nagorno Karabakh pains the hearts of Azerbaijanis, it pains my heart and that of every Turkish citizen," Erdogan said.
The Turkish prime minister said Ankara and Baku adhere to the same stance on the Cyprus and Karabakh issues.
Erdogan thanked fraternal Azerbaijan for its support in fighting terror, adding that "there is no other example" of friendship in the world like the friendly relations between the two countries.
He stressed that Azerbaijan was the first country to help Turkey after it was rocked by a devastating earthquake on Sunday.
Erdogan also congratulated President Aliyev on Azerbaijan’s election as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, regarding it as "a great victory".
Aliyev, for his part, said it was a "joint seat" gained by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
"We have always acted in concert, and will stand together there [UN SC] as well," he said.
The president expressed his appreciation for Turkey’s working hard to promote Azerbaijan’s recognition in the world.
"The Turkish people have always been the first to help us. Azerbaijan, on its end, is ready to extend its support to them every time they need it," Aliyev said.
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