(MENAFN- AzerNews) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President
of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and President of
Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov have held an expanded meeting in
the city of Turkmenbashi.
The Azerbaijani president addressed the meeting.
Speech by President Ilham Aliyev
- Distinguished President of Turkmenistan Serdar
Gurbanguliyevich Berdimuhamedov,
Distinguished President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Dear friends,
This is my second visit to brotherly Turkmenistan this year, and
I am very happy to be here again. I would like to express my
gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for the high-level
organization of the trilateral summit and hospitality extended.
We are pleased to witness Turkmenistan's advancement on the
stable and dynamic path of development and to observe its
achievements.
Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Turkmenistan are closely bound to each
other by ethnic, religious and cultural roots and shared moral
values. We are rightfully proud of the rich historical and cultural
heritage of our nations and their great contributions to human
civilization.
The political relations of Azerbaijan with both Turkiye and
Turkmenistan are at a high level. The Shusha Declaration signed
with Turkiye last year elevated our relations to the level of
strategic alliance. In 2017 the Declaration on Strategic
Partnership was signed between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
Our countries provide mutual support and cooperate with each
other within the framework of international organizations,
including the UN, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Organization
of Turkic States, OSCE, and other institutions.
Our relations built on historical bonds create opportunities for
the development of cooperation between our countries in economy,
trade, transport and logistics, and other areas.
In January-October 2022, Azerbaijan's trade turnover with
Turkiye increased by 45 percent and reached 5 billion US
dollars.
Nearly 20 billion US dollars have been invested from Azerbaijan
into Turkiye's economy, and some 14 billion US dollars have been
invested by Turkiye into Azerbaijan's economy.
This year, the trade turnover with Turkmenistan increased five
times, marking a record level to date.
Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan have attained substantial
success in the transport and logistics area. Many projects have
been implemented by our countries, which in turn create new
opportunities for cooperation in the field of transport
connectivity.
Investments in this sector in all three countries served the
purpose of creating new and modern infrastructure.
Azerbaijan is an active player in the East-West and North-South
transport corridors and has implemented all major projects related
to railway, highway, and air transport in its territory. As a
result, Azerbaijan has become an important transit country.
In the first 10 months of 2022, the volume of total transit
traffic passing through Azerbaijan has increased by more than 80
percent compared to the corresponding period of last year.
Today, we are actively engaged in the opening of the Zangazur
corridor. 40 percent of the works on the railway line and 70
percent on the highway have been completed in the section of the
Zangazur corridor on the territory of Azerbaijan. All works are
expected to be completed in 2024, leading to the establishment of a
new transport corridor.
The Baku International Sea Trade Port has an annual handling
capacity of 15 million tons, with funding envisaged to increase its
capacity to 25 million tons.
Last year, we laid the foundation of the Alat Free Economic Zone
on the shores of the Caspian Sea, and the first residents have
already settled there. We would like to invite companies from
Turkiye and Turkmenistan to benefit from opportunities available in
the Zone.
In 2017, together with my dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan, we
inaugurated the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway. In addition, more than
100 million US dollars will be invested in this project, and its
handling capacity will be increased from the current one million to
five million tons.
Azerbaijan has the largest commercial fleet in the Caspian Sea,
with over 50 cargo ships. The Baku Shipyard, commissioned in 2013,
is currently operating at its full capacity. This facility is
capable of building any type of vessel.
Azerbaijan has one of the largest civil air cargo fleets in our
region, with 18 cargo planes. It is planned to add nine more
aircrafts to our cargo fleet over the next 10 years.
Currently, there are 8 international airports operating in
Azerbaijan. President of Turkiye, my dear brother Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, attended the opening of Fuzuli and Zangilan airports built
in the liberated territories. In 2024, the 9th international
airport of our country is scheduled to be opened in liberated
Lachin.
At the end of 2020, as a result of the victory in the 44-day
Patriotic War, our lands were liberated from the 30-year occupation
by Armenia. The Karabakh conflict was resolved, and this victory
created favorable opportunities for new transport and communication
projects in the region.
Currently, the world is facing new challenges and threats, and
therefore, along with other spheres, expansion of cooperation
between our countries in the areas of security, defense, and
defense industry is of great importance.
I would like to reiterate the importance of the meeting in the
trilateral format of Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Turkmenistan. I hope
meetings of this kind will be held regularly and greatly contribute
to the further development of relations between our brotherly
countries.
Thank you.