Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Turkish speaking countries was the main focus of talks in Turkey's Bodrum city.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has paid a working visit to Turkey on June 4 to participate in the Fourth Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States.

President Aliyev met with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in Bodrum.

Berdymukhamedov said bilateral relations between the two countries are developing very well and are on an upward trend.

He thanked Azerbaijani president for supporting his country's international initiatives, especially matters relating to the energy security and the development of transport infrastructure networks.

"There is already good cooperation within the framework of authoritative international organizations, especially the United Nations, for which we are grateful to you," Berdymukhamedov said to Azerbaijan's president.

He went on to say that the trade and economic cooperation is also developing very well, noting it is encouraging that there has been a good turnover in the first half of this year.

"We will hold a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation. I think we have good capabilities to increase our financial turnover," Berdymukhamedov said.

Touching upon the adoption of some policy documents on the Caspian Sea at Baku Summit, Berdymukhamedov said the Caspian Sea has been a sea of good-neighborliness and peace and will remain so in future.

"I'm sure that the fact that our experts are working on environmental issues and discussing about flora and biosphere of the Caspian Sea will produce good results," Turkmen President said.

Referring to the first European games in 2015 in Baku and the Asian Games in 2017 in Turkmenistan, Berdymukhamedov said it is possible to consider an exchange of experience not only between athletes, but also between coaches and referees in order to have effective results.

President Aliyev, in turn, said he hopes that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan which is based on friendship, brotherhood and neighborliness will be continued and strengthened in future.

"We are committed to strengthening our political relations. We want to build up cooperation in all areas. We are also pleased that our economic trade is growing. The potential, of course, is very large. I think that in the future we will fully involve all economic sectors," President Aliyev said.

He said construction project is underway to make a large and modern seaport in Turkmenistan, just like Azerbaijan's one. "These two new ports will serve our countries and peoples. We will increase the traffic through the Caspian Sea to strengthen our economic potential."

Referring to the parallel developments underway in the energy sector, President Aliyev said this sector also provides the two nations with a huge benefit and serves the prosperity of the two countries.

"I think these projects, as well as our joint efforts to ensure security in the Caspian Sea and to preserve the environmental balance in the Caspian basin will contribute to the positive development of the situation. We do hope that the upcoming summit of Caspian states, which will be first after Baku's summit, will also be very positive in terms of expanding our cooperation," President Aliyev said.

He also touched upon the cultural sphere, saying the two countries cooperate and work together in this area.

President Aliyev also met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Bodrum.

The sides expressed their satisfaction with the successful development of friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey in all directions and voiced their confidence that the strategic partnership between the two countries would continue to expand.

It was noted that the Fourth Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States would contribute to the further enhancement of cooperation and regional relations between Turkic peoples and countries.

The sides further exchanged views on bilateral and other issues of mutual interest.

On the same day, President Aliyev also met with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the successful development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the political, economic and other spheres. It was noted that there is good potential for further expansion of ties.

They also exchanged views on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which emerged in 1988 after Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Aliyev on his own behalf and also on behalf of Azerbaijani people thanked Nazarbayev for supporting Azerbaijan's position on Armenia's membership in the Customs Union at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

On June 4, Turkish President Gul hosted a dinner in Bodrum attended by the heads of states.

Afterwards, the presidents were presented a concert called "Türk düyünü" in the historic Bodrum Castle.

The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS) was established in 2009 in Nakhchivan as an international intergovernmental organization, with the overarching aim of promoting comprehensive cooperation among Turkic Speaking States.

Its four founding member States are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.

The remaining two Turkic states, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are not currently official members of the council due to their neutral stance.