Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the foundation-laying ceremony for the Star refinery of Petkim

- Dear brother, dear Prime Minister!

Dear ladies and gentlemen, dear friends!

It is a remarkable and historic day in the history of Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. But first of all I would like to express condolences to the great Turkish nation on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan over the earthquake that has hit Turkey and the heavy human loss. May those killed rest in peace and the wounded recover soon.

As always, Azerbaijan stands by Turkey, the people of Azerbaijan stand by the Turkish people. We are together on both nice and sad days because our unity strengthens our relations and rests on a historical foundation. Our peoples have been together for centuries. We speak the same language. We are one nation, and while we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our independence, Turkey is with us. Perhaps there are no other two countries that would be so close and attached to each other. We are happy to be faithful to the historical justice, our past and the legacy of our forefathers.

Turkey and Azerbaijan are together on all matters. We always support each other in international issues. We cooperate successfully in all areas. We jointly implement projects that represent huge importance to the region and the world. We put forward joint initiatives and create miracles.

This ceremony, this groundbreaking ceremony actually shows our unity. It shows that we have done and will do a lot together. Our strength is in unity. I am very pleased that Turkey and Azerbaijan are also making valuable contributions to the cooperation among Turkic states. Our unity and cooperation are important to the entire Turkic world. I can say with confidence that Turkey and Azerbaijan are making exceptional contributions to Turkic cooperation. So Turkic unity is taking place as a result of our efforts.

This groundbreaking ceremony is quite symbolic. Because after only 20 years of independence Azerbaijan is starting to invest heavily in the brotherly country. Such investment can only be made in friendly and brotherly states. I am pleased that Turkish companies invest in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani companies are already investing in Turkey. These are our joint projects. The new enterprises to be set up here in Petkim will serve both Turkish and Azerbaijani peoples.

I would like to look a little back today. Only five years ago we were celebrating the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline together with my dear brother, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It was a historic achievement, a wonderful ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony on the Mediterranean coast. Today, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline operates practically at full capacity and brings our peoples even closer together.

A year later, in early 2007, my dear brother Tayyip Erdogan and I signed documents on the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway in Georgia. This project is also well under way and I hope there will be another great ceremony to attend in the near future, in one year’s time.

As my dear brother has said, the Baku-Erzurum gas pipeline was commissioned in 2007. Thanks to the commissioning of this line gas from brotherly Azerbaijan was delivered to Turkey for the first time. I am sure we will significantly increase the volume of gas in the coming years.

In 2008, SOCAR and TURKAS applied for the takeover of Petkim. I am very pleased and grateful to my brother that our application was considered positively and SOCAR acquired the opportunity to invest here. Today, in 2011, we are at the start of a new project. So this history is an indicator in itself. Where there is a strong political will and sincere relations between states, we can resolve any issues. Indeed, we are implementing major and highly important projects of global proportions. The execution of these projects primarily rests on our friendship and brotherhood. Friendship and brotherhood form the foundation of all our successes.

As my brother Tayyip Erdogan has said, we have recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of our independence. This holiday was broadly celebrated in Azerbaijan. Looking back again, we were noting that Turkey was the first country to recognize our independence. A country gains independence when it is recognized by others. So brotherly Turkey played the key role in our recognition by the world community, and the people of Azerbaijan will never forget that. In subsequent periods, at the most challenging years for Azerbaijan, brotherly Turkey was the first to support us. Today, 20 years on, developing Azerbaijan is ready to support Turkey and supports it when necessary. This is our obligation. I want to repeat that Turkey is a native country for us. We do not differentiate between us. The earthquake of two days ago equally shocked Turkish and Azerbaijani people. I am very pleased that not only our government, but also ordinary citizens and people tried to help with whatever they could, to extend their helping hand. We know that Turkey is a great state and can resolve any issue on its territory.

We extended this hand of friendship because of a feeling in our heart. We want to be with Turkey at this difficult moment, just as we are with you on pleasant occasions.

There is a powerful Turkey on the world map today. We are very pleased with that. This makes us stronger too. As someone loving Turkey, I am very pleased with that. I am pleased that in the short period of activities of my dear friend, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a matter of 10 years, Turkey has covered a long, successful and glorious road. Turkey has turned into a power center not only in the region, but in the world, a center that attracts friends, a center that puts forward its initiatives on the basis of cooperation and friendship. So the number of countries that want to be friends with Turkey is growing both in the region and the world. The successes Turkey has achieved in the economic and political fields in the last decade are historic. Turkish citizens are certainly aware of that. As people always watching Turkey closely, we also know this, rejoice in and are proud of that.

We in Azerbaijan have also achieved great development in recent years. Rapid development is typical of Azerbaijan. Our election to the UN Security Council is evidence of our growing international authority. I want to take this opportunity to thank Turkey again for being with and supporting us in this vote. As Mr. Erdogan said, Turkey was recently represented on the Security Council, now it is Azerbaijan. But both our countries know that this is our joint seat.

Dear friends, I want to congratulate all of you again on this wonderful ceremony. I am grateful to dear Prime Minister, my brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan for inviting me to Turkey to attend this ceremony. As mentioned, the first meeting of the Turkish-Azerbaijani Cooperation Council is also due today. I am sure that the meeting, the Council will produce great results. These results will bring our countries and peoples even closer together.

Greetings from Azerbaijan to all our friends. I wish the great Turkish nation happiness and good health. Thank you.