Azerbaijani President arrives in Turkey for working visit - UPDATE - PHOTOS

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has congratulated Azerbaijan on election to the United Nations Security Council. Tayyip Erdogan addressed the groundbreaking ceremony for a new refinery near Izmir on Turkey`s Mediterranean coast. The refinery is to be built by Petkim, the largest petrochemicals company in Turkey, which is owned by an alliance of Turkish petroleum company Turcas and Azerbaijan`s state oil company SOCAR.

SOCAR has the controlling share in the joint venture. Construction of the Ege Oil Refinery in Aliaga, near Izmir, is expected to cost $5bn. It will have the capacity to refine 10 million tones of oil per year. The first part of the refinery is to come on stream in three years. “As we know Azerbaijan has become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and we offer our sincere congratulations to Azerbaijan. The brotherly country will be in this capacity for two years.”

The Turkish Premier added: “Together we have had a very successful activity, and we achieved this success.” Azerbaijan has been elected a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for 2012-2013 after Slovenia dropped out of a lengthy race for an East European seat on the 15-nation body. The voting in the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly went to 16 ballots before Slovenia, trailing by 39 votes, pulled out. In one further ballot, Azerbaijan, now unopposed, had no difficulty winning the required two-thirds majority.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev yesterday ended his working visit to Turkey. At the Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, a guard of honor was lined up for President Ilham Aliyev decorated with the national flags of the two countries. The Head of State was seen off by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and high-ranking state and government officials.

The same day, President Ilham Aliyev returned to Baku. At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the Head of State was welcomed by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Baku Mayor Hajibala Abutalybov.

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A signing ceremony of Azerbaijan-Turkey documents was held here with participation of Azerbaijan`s President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a protocol of the first meeting of Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

Azerbaijan`s ambassador to Turkey Faig Bagirov and Deputy Director-General of the Turkish State Meteorological Service Ali Karatas signed a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the field of meteorology. Azerbaijan`s ambassador Faig Bagirov and Director General of Anadolu Agency Kemal Ozturk signed a cooperation agreement between the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (AzerTAc) and Turkish Anadolu Agency.

Azerbaijan`s ambassador Faig Bagirov and Turkish General Director of Forestry Mustafa Kurtulmuslu signed a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the field of forestry. Azerbaijan`s ambassador Faig Bagirov and General Director of the Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information Murat Karakaya signed a protocol of cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the fields of press and information.

Azerbaijan`s ambassador Faig Bagirov and President of the Turkish Police Academy Zuhtu Arslan signed a protocol of cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the field of police education. Azerbaijan`s Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu signed a memorandum of understanding between the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and Turkish Diplomatic Academy.

Azerbaijan`s Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu signed a protocol on exchange of ratification decrees for the contract of August 16, 2010 on strategic partnership and mutual assistance between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Azerbaijan`s Economic Development Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Turkish Economic Minister Zafer Caglayan signed an agreement on promotion and mutual protection of investments between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Chairwoman of Azerbaijan`s State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Hijran Huseynova and Turkish Minister of Family and Social Policies Fatma Sahin signed a protocol of cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the field of family and social policies.

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The first meeting of the Turkey-Azerbaijan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council took place   yesterday with attendance of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The meeting saw discussions on a variety of fields of Azerbaijan-Turkey bilateral relationship.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan had joint dinner in Izmir.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Star oil refinery of the Petkim Company, Heydar Aliyev Vocational Education Lyceum and inauguration of the AYPE-T plant in Izmir, Turkey. The Azerbaijani President and Turkish Premier were informed that a foundation stone of the Petkim Petrochemical Holding had been laid in Yarımca in 1965. The second complex of the Petkim was constructed in Aliaga, Izmir in 1984.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Turkish Turgas Company acquired 51% stake in the Petrochemical Plant of the Petkim Petrochemical Holding in 2008. Prior to the ceremonies, the participants paid tribute to founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and martyrs. Then, the national anthems of Turkey and Azerbaijan were performed.

The event participants watched a documentary on the future of the Petkim peninsula.
Addressing the event, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed satisfaction with President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Izmir. On behalf of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked President Ilham Aliyev and all people of Azerbaijan for providing assistance over the Van earthquake. The Premier underlined Azerbaijan was the first country to send humanitarian aid to Turkey.

He also praised the activity of Azerbaijan`s rescuers. The Turkish PM said USD 5bln investment from SOCAR and Turgas to the petro-chemical facility is the largest injection into the construction of the plant both in Turkey and the world. Recep Tayyip Erdogan underscored the construction of the oil refinery will employ 10.000 people.

Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Premier said Turkey had always supported Azerbaijan in this conflict. Erdogan congratulated Azerbaijan on election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. President Ilham Aliyev said today was a milestone in Turkey-Azerbaijan relations. The Head of State extended condolences to Turkish people over the deadly earthquake. The President said Azerbaijan-Turkey relations were strengthening.

President Ilham Aliyev underlined Azerbaijan and Turkey support each other in all matters, implement joint projects, adding today`s ceremony is another manifestation of this unity.
President Ilham Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan`s glorious path. The Azerbaijan leader underscored the country`s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council was an evidence of the country`s increasing prestige. The Head of State thanked Turkey for support in the elections. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the inauguration ceremony of the AYPE-T plant via a live video stream.

The Azerbaijani leader and Turkish Premier expressed their congratulations on the occasion.
President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan also watched the groundbreaking ceremony of the Heydar Aliyev Vocational Education Lyceum via a video link. Izmir`s MP Aydin Sengul informed the President and Premier about the facility. A protocol on building the Lyceum was signed between the SOCAR and Izmir governor`s office. The facility has 24 classrooms, residential building and sports hall. The Azerbaijani leader and Turkish Premier expressed their congratulations on the occasion.


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25.10.2011

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today arrived in Turkey for a working visit. A guard of honor was lined up for the Azerbaijani President at the Izmir military airport decorated with the national flags of the two countries.

President Ilham Aliyev was welcomed by the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today left for Turkey.

At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the Head of State was seen off by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Mayor of Baku Hajibala Abutalibov.


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