My dear friend, brother, esteemed guest President of Turkey Suleyman Demirel,

Esteemed guests and friends,

Esteemed residents of Baku,

Today is a significant day in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is on the eve of an international conference which will be hold on the restoration of the Great Silk Road, the heads of the states of Europe and Asia, their delegations are coming to Azerbaijan. Delegations of most international organizations are already in Baku.

We are hosting a great conference in Azerbaijan tomorrow. I am proud to say that it is the first international conference to be held in Azerbaijan after it has gained its independence.  This conference in Azerbaijan is the bright demonstration of the attitude of the world international, organizations, European, Asian and Caucasian countries to Azerbaijan.

The other gladdening event is that we are meeting today our dearest friend, brother President of Turkey Mr. Suleyman Demirel.  His visit to Azerbaijan is very significant for this conference and I think that his participation in this conference will add success to this conference.

My dear friend and brother, I welcome you in Azerbaijan once more. I cordially greet you on behalf of the Azerbaijani people and the citizens of Baku.

Relations of friendship and brotherhood between Turkey and Azerbaijan have unbreakable ties. They have strengthened and become eternal in the recent years. We highly appreciate our friendship with Turkey and hope for its future continuance.

When Azerbaijan gained its independence, Turkey helped us by all means. It helps now and will do it in future.

Yesterday the Turkish “Red Crescent Association” sent an aid convey to “Azadliq” Square for internally displaced persons who have left their home as a result of the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. Fifteen big lorries came there. The citizens of Azerbaijan saw it on television yesterday. They came from Turkey and this aid from our brothers is supposed for internally displaced persons of Azerbaijan. They helped us in the past, and today the Turkish “Red Crescent” helps us once more. We hope they will help us in future as well. I express my gratitude to the Turkish people, government and to my dear friend and brother Suleyman Demirel for their support.

We have witnessed many examples of the Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation. One of them is the opening ceremony of this office-hotel. It is a significant event in the life of Azerbaijan that the office-hotel is built and began to work today. First of all, the new building, which is very important for the present and future of Azerbaijan, decorates Baku. Secondly, as a result of ongoing economic reforms, development of free economy, the opportunity of free business for businessmen in Azerbaijan, a private company has built this building, invested and will benefit from it. It is a wonderful event.

After its independence of Azerbaijan it carries out economic reforms and tries to develop its economy on the principles of market relations. We have many achievements in this sphere. But we have a lot of works to do. There are measures taken for privatization, land reform and for the transfer of the lands to private ownership. We have created opportunities for the entrepreneurs and businessmen to work freely, use their resources as they wish, invest and benefit from it. It is provided by the law and we encourage them by different means. One of the entrepreneurs is the group of companies who founded this building. Construction of this hotel in the center of Baku is the demonstration of attention and care for the economy and entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan.

I would like to note it again that the construction of this hotel is an example of economic relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The construction and development of this hotel by a Turkish company displays the results of our cooperation.

I am sure that this office-hotel will serve the businessmen and guests who will come to our republic and will help the free entrepreneurship, free economy and the development of market relations by its activity and example.

I wish successes to this Turkish building company who built this office-hotel.

My dear friend, brother, esteemed Suleyman Demirel,

Your each arrival in Azerbaijan turns into a holiday. You see how many people have gathered here. All of them have come here to see and greet you. You are the person who has done a lot both for Turkey, and Azerbaijan, for the Turkish world. Every time we see you, we become glad and welcome you as a brother. I convey to you the best regards of all the citizens and people of our republic once more. I wish you health, long life and new successes in your future work.

“Azerbaijan” newspaper, September 8, 1998