Turkey, Azerbaijan to form strategic cooperation council

Turkey's prime minister and Azerbaijan's president decided on Monday that their countries shall set up a high-level strategic cooperation council. Speaking at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that fruitful talks had been held as part of his visit to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku today.

Pointing to Aliyev's upcoming visit to Turkey in June, Erdogan said the two countries' officials would continue to pay visits and hold talks on political, military, commercial, economic and cultural issues in a determined way. Commenting on the content of his meeting with Aliyev, Erdogan said, "One of the most important steps we have taken during today's gathering is the decision we have taken to set up a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between our countries".

Erdogan said that establishment of such a council would contribute to the future of the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Noting that Aliyev had also informed him on the Karabakh issue during their talks, Erdogan said Azerbaijan had always maintained its positive stance on such matter.

"Azerbaijan has reacted positively to the Minsk Group's latest proposal, although Armenia has not replied to it yet. This shows Azerbaijan's positive stance on the matter," the Turkish prime minister said.

Noting that Karabakh issue had been discussed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's recent visit to Turkey as well, Erdogan said Turkey would carry on with its sensitivity on the matter.


/World Bulletin/