The Second official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to the Republic of Turkey is distinguished for its comprehensiveness and number of meetings. Therefore, the Azerbaijani President held 22 meetings in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir.
On the 5th of May, in the reception held in “Chankaya Palace” in connection with this visit Heydar Aliyev said in his press statement: “We frequently meet you in the recent years. However, I think that achievements gained from these official visits and meetings will raise the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations to high levels. I consider that we have enough opportunities to broaden and deepen our cooperation in all the fields. As an independent country the Republic of Azerbaijan needs it.”
In the same day a meeting of the Azerbaijani and Turkish delegations was held. The parties expressed their satisfaction with the speed of development of the relations between the countries.
On the 5th of May the signature ceremony of documents between Azerbaijan and Turkey was held in “Chankaya Palace”. Eight agreements covering different fields, as well as , declaration on Deepening strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey were signed. Speaking in front of press during the signature ceremony Heydar Aliyev appreciated the document as an indicator of the new stage in the relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey.
On the 5th of May, President Heydar Aliyev was rewarded with “State Order” of the Republic of Turkey. In his speech in the ceremony Heydar Aliyev told: “I have already said these words, and today I am repeating: we are one nation, but two states. As a member of one nation it is an honor tome to be awarded by the leader of the other nation.”
On the 5th of May Heydar Aliyev met the ambassadors of foreign countries to Ankara, as well as, who were appointed to Azerbaijan. In his speech in the meeting Heydar Aliyev called the ambassadors to visit Azerbaijan frequently, to collect objective information and to inform their countries.
On the same day President of Turkey Suleyman Demirel organized an official reception in honor of Heydar Aliyev. In his statement in the reception Heydar Aliyev mentioned that the Azerbaijani people will always be loyal to their friendship.
On the 6th of May Heydar Aliyev made a speech in the ceremony devoted to naming one of the central streets in honor of Azerbaijan. He appreciated this event as an attitude to the Azerbaijani-Turkish friendship.
On the 6th of May Heydar Aliyev made speeches in groundbreaking ceremony of the new embassy building of Azerbaijan in Turkey and in Bilkent University of Turkey, got acquainted with the School of Turkish Land Forces, met students and representatives of the Azerbaijani lobby, and gave an interview to the prominent journalists of this country.
On that day President Heydar Aliyev made a speech in the meeting with members of the Parliament of Turkey. Heydar Aliyev mentioned that the experience of the Turkish Parliament is not only a school for Azerbaijan, but also for all the states which follow the path of democracy and independence.
The official visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Turkey was in the focus of the Turkish media. On the 6th of May Heydar Aliyev gave an interview to “Samanyolu TV” and NTV, and on the 8th of May he met the heads of TV channels, TRT, TGRT, “Samanyolu” , NTV and answered to their questions.
On the 7th of May the Azerbaijani President went to Izmir. In Izmir the President was awarded with the title of the Honorary Doctor of “9 Eylul University.”
On the same day Heydar Aliyev made a speech in the reception organized in his honor by the governor of Izmir Kutlu Aktash. While touching upon the fraternization of Izmir and Baku, President Heydar Aliyev emphasized the importance of further expansion and development of these relations.
On the 7th of May the Azerbaijani President attended the opening ceremony of “Park of Baku” in Izmir. He highly appreciated this initiative and expressed his hope for the continuation of that tradition in other cities, too.
The President met media on the same day and the answered questions of journalists about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorny Karabakh, army building, religious tolerance, Baku – Jeyhan pipeline, Azerbaijan- USA, and Azerbaijani – Russiaan relations.
On the 8th of May a diploma of the honorary doctor of “Fatih University” was presented to Heydar Aliyev.
President Heydar Aliyev in his meeting with the Turkish businessmen on 8th of May called them to invest actively in the Azerbaijani economy.
On the same day the President of Azerbaijan made a speech in the Center of History, Culture, and Art of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Istanbul, and evaluated the researches conducted there.
The Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, who completed his official visit in the 8th of May made a statement in Ataturk Airport of Istanbul: “I want to mention with pleasure that this visit was very successful for Azerbaijan. I am very pleased with this visit, negotiations and the signed documents, the meetings with the heads of the Turkish government and other meetings. I am very satisfied with the top level meetings and discussions.”