Turkish premier begins two-day visit to Azerbaijan

By Merve Aydogan

BAKU, Azerbaijan

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, who is in Azerbaijani capital Baku on a two-day visit, praised long-standing relations between the two countries.

Yildirim arrived in the Azerbaijani capital to attend the Sixth Global Baku Forum.

Following a 45-minute meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Yildirim met Parliament Speaker Oktay Asadov at the National Parliament.

Asserting that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan is developing further, Yildirim said the growing ties between the two countries were reviewed during his meeting with Aliyev.

According to a prime ministerial source, both Yildirim and Aliyev stressed the importance of continuing high-level bilateral visits.

Both officials also vowed to continue close cooperation in all areas, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

“Considering the coming years, strong Turkey and strong Azerbaijan will be the assurance for the region,” Yildirim said in his remarks at the meeting with Asadov.

He highlighted the significance of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project as well as Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, which operates between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Later, the Turkish premier also met his Azerbaijani counterpart Artur Rasizade.

In tomorrow’s Global Baku Forum, Yildirim will deliver a speech at a session -- titled Power: Big Powers and the Others.

This year’s forum, organized by the Baku-based Nizami Ganjavi International Center, focuses on the theme “Bridging Gaps to create Inclusive Societies.”