AZERBAIJAN - TURKEY RELATIONS IN RETROSPECT "WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS?"

The founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who had a great ability to foresee the future noted in a speech he delivered at the Great Assembly of Turkey, Today the Soviet Union is our friend, neighbor and ally. We need this alliance. However, nobody can know what the future holds. Just like the Ottoman Empire and the Hapsburg Empire could the Soviet Empire as well collapse and disperse. Consequently, the republics that are tightly attached to it may scattered out and got out of the control of the Soviet Empire.

There may emerge a new world order. Turkey has to have a proper strategy to pursue then. Our sister nations with whom we share common language, identity and religion are currently under control of our ally.

When the time comes, we must be able to protect and support them. We must be ready for that decent responsibility. However, to be ready is far from being mere waiting. We have to prepare for it. How does a nation prepare for such a cause then? By maintaining strong spiritual ties with them and fortifying the cultural bridges in between. Language, religion and common history are the bridges...

We ought to go back to our roots and seek avenues to unite again despite the history which at some point managed to detach us...

One day, the Soviet Union would collapse for sure, and then Turkey would be an exemplary for those nations.

These are the reflections of a great leader who sought to establish a vision for his fellow citizens.

Toward the end of the 1980's, which witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan declared its independence on October 18th, 1991 and set the forth for progress in road paved by honor, dignity and difficulties as well. The Turkish nation which was dedicated to the implementation of its great leader's vision, had already prepared for such a historical moment. Just as Ataturk instructed, we should have been shoulder to shoulder with Azerbaijan in both good and bad days. We should have shared each others happiness and sorrow. It was Turkey which was the first to recognize the Republic of Azerbaijan and its independence in 1991 just as it was Turkey to do so for the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918.

In the early years, ongoing war impeded the Azerbaijan government to undertake substantial reforms. After all, the national security and land integrity was under severe threat.

When it was 1993, it was the turn of shinny days for the Turkic nations. Just as he himself noted at every occasion, the nation which had two states once again has grown another great national leader. Azerbaijan should have been a great state. Yet it was not sufficient to be a mere state; the entire world should have recognized this great state. Nothing but this objective lies underneath the logic of the ceasefire signed with Armenia in 1994 despite the fact that twenty percent of the Azerbaijani territories was under occupation by Armenia. Eventually the world community would come to realize the righteousness of Azerbaijan in the related conflict with Armenia, and do whatever necessary to enable its to reobtain the occupied territories.

With these goals in mind, the state of Azerbaijan rapidly and decisively set forth for economic, political and social reforms. Within the same year, it signed the contract of the century with the giant oil companies. This contract was not only an economic success but also a political one. Through this initiative, Azerbaijan established strong relations with the great powers. On the other hand, it was right that Turkey was a sister nation. However, this new nation needed more friend and more allies. In addition to the Contract of the Century, the Shah Deniz agreement has fortified the already existing mutual respect and cooperation. Moreover the Christian world's spiritual leader the Pope John Paul II's visited the Muslim nation of Azerbaijan. Is it not one of the best evidence of Azerbaijan's successful commingling with the world? Azerbaijan all of a sudden looked like an office of the United Nations. Businesses of different nations ranging from Mexico to Canada to China and Japan have flown into Azerbaijan, and have been operating effectively and confidently. Azerbaijan turned into a giant construction site.

Azerbaijani people who is in known of the historical achievements of their great leader Heydar Aliyev, would protect his heritage and strive to implement his vision. Such decent responsibility has been carried out at the foremost under the leadership of our current President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan keeps gaining popularity on many states' agenda. The fact that 2005 is adopted to be the year of Azerbaijan in Russian is the best indicator of this success.

Nevertheless the relations with the sister state Turkey were never abandoned. On the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Azerbaijan, both states signed a mutual agreement to launch Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project on October 18th, 2002. As agreed upon, it will be completed and will start to operate this year. This project meant to be an evidence of economic interdependence between two nations which have already been connects through cultural ties. Yet there are still much to do. As I mentioned before, Turkish society has already prepared for these days. The mutual cooperation has been launched through multiple channels. The investments of the Turkish businessmen in Azerbaijan's non-oil sectors are also worth to mention.

In known of the fact that education is quintessential for a nation to rise, the Turkish entrepreneurs have pioneered to establish schools ranging from primary schools to universities. Today, about seven thousand students in these schools are receiving modern education which will enable them to further advance the Republic of Azerbaijan.

We promise that we will pursue both Azerbaijan's and the Republic of Turkey's relations with other states on the bases of our national interests. In accordance with the international agreements and laws, we will further the nations that we have inherited from you.

Long live the brotherhood of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Long live the hand-in-hand cooperation of the two nations in peace and mutual respect.