Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed on Monday the importance of the “Igdir-Nakhchivan” gas pipeline project in terms of strengthening his country’s partnership with Azerbaijan and contributing to the security of energy supplies in Europe.
This came in a press conference held with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev following the laying of the foundation stone for the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline and the signing ceremony of a number of agreements in the Supreme Council (Parliament) of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.
Erdogan indicated that he proudly sees the development that Nakhchivan has witnessed since his last visit to it in 2008, stressing that the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are unparalleled in the world.
He stressed that they are continuing their efforts to strengthen relations and cooperation between the two countries in all fields under the slogan “One People, Two States.”
He pointed out that Nakhchivan has great potential in terms of economy, transportation and power lines, adding: “With the establishment of regional transmission lines, we will have the opportunity to fully activate this potential.”
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He added: “The importance of the international Middle Corridor between East and West has been better understood as a result of the Corona epidemic and the wars in our region, and on this occasion, the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline will strengthen our partnership with Azerbaijan in the field of energy and will also contribute to the security of energy supplies in Europe.”
He pointed out that the two sides signed today the Kars-Nakhchivan railway project, in addition to agreements in the fields of collective housing and electric energy.
He also stated that, following the press conference, they will open the military maintenance factory that Turkey renovated, indicating that the project will contribute greatly to cooperation between the two sides in defense industries.
President Erdogan touched on the operation carried out by Azerbaijan against terrorism in the Karabakh region recently, explaining that Baku was forced to carry out the operation on its sovereign territory.
He noted that “the completion of the operation in a short time while showing the utmost concern for the rights of civilians is a source of pride.”
He said: “I pray to God for mercy for our brothers who were martyred during the operation, and I condole their relatives and wish a speedy recovery for the injured.”
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He added: “I wholeheartedly congratulate the victorious Azerbaijani army for its historic success and humanitarian stance towards civilians.”
He continued: “With the recent victory (the operation against terrorism in Karabakh), new windows of opportunity have opened for comprehensive normalization in the region,” stressing the importance of exploiting this opportunity.
President Erdogan called on Armenia to shake the hand of peace extended to it and take sincere steps to bring peace to the region.
On September 19, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense announced in a statement the launch of an anti-terrorism operation “with the aim of establishing constitutional order in the Karabakh region.”
One day later, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced that representatives of the Armenian population in Karabakh had submitted a request through the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the region, according to which an agreement was reached for Baku to stop its operation against terrorism in the region and abandon the illegal Armenian armed groups and the Armenian armed forces present in Karabakh. To give up its weapons and evacuate its military sites.
On September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani army launched an operation to liberate its occupied territories in Karabakh, and after fierce battles that lasted 44 days, Azerbaijan and Armenia reached a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement stipulating that Baku would regain control over its occupied territories.
