Second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held with the participation of Ilham Aliyev and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council has been held in Gabala with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Welcoming the meeting participants, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Dear Prime Minister, my dear brother!

I warmly welcome you to Azerbaijan! The second meeting of the Azerbaijani-Turkish Strategic Cooperation Council is being held in Azerbaijan, in Gabala. We held the first meeting in Izmir, it was very successful. And now we are here.

Over the past period our ties have developed rapidly. Very important events have taken place since our meeting in Izmir. We have met many times, signed the TANAP project. In other words, the decisions made in Izmir are being implemented. Our strategic alliance is developing and strengthening, it covers all spheres.

The agenda of today's meeting is also very broad. Both sides are represented by ministers who will also have their say. Our ministers are in close contact and communication with each other. I often meet with your ministers in Baku, our ministers also meet with you.

In short, our two fraternal countries are confidently and successfully continuing their cooperation and I am sure that today's meeting will be the “road map” for our future activities. I am confident that this meeting will also be successful and create new opportunities for the development and unity of our countries.

Once again, welcome to Azerbaijan!

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said:

- I also want to thank you on my own behalf and on behalf of our delegation.

Dear brother, Mr. President, honorable ministers, members of delegations. Every time we visit Azerbaijan, we feel very much at home. And love in this home helps both our countries, both nations to become stronger and continue their way.

Ten years ago we set down this path with a turnover of about $1 billion. And now it has reached $3.5 billion. Of course, we are not satisfied with this. Inshallah, very quickly, in the shortest possible time, we will bring this figure up to $5 billion. Recently our Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan was in Azerbaijan and met with you. We have set this goal. Speaking with my dear brother about the meeting of the joint commission a little earlier, we discussed this. We want to hold meetings of the joint commission before the end of this year in order to continue this work at an accelerated pace.

Our military, political and cultural cooperation continues as part of our serious interaction on the international arena. Along with this, our cooperation in the energy sector has reached its peak now. We signed the TANAP agreement in Istanbul. After that we will start engaging the mechanisms. Inshallah, TANAP will soon enable us to receive Azerbaijani gas and transport it to Europe.

And this, of course, will lead to changes and further development. Knowing this, we are taking these steps. I do hope that this second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council after Izmir will also be very rewarding. Our ministers have already held the necessary meetings. I hope the outcome of this meeting will be as useful and beneficial.

Please accept greetings, love and respect on behalf of all my friends again.