Azerbaijani, Turkish Presidents have expanded meeting (UPDATED)

EDITOR's NOTE: expressions of Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Abdullah Gul of Turkey were added

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Abdullah Gul of Turkey have had on Monday an expanded meeting in Baku following their private talk, the AzerTaj state news agency reported.

Adressing the meeting President Ilham Aliyev said that the Turkey-Azerbaijan brotherhood and joint activity have today become a very important element both on the bilateral and regional levels.

"I cordially welcome you to Azerbaijan. Your visit is very important. Today we have already discussed the big part issues related to our relations during our private meeting. Once again we made certain that friendly and brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are successfully developing, covering all fields, and this cooperation gives good results. The Turkey-Azerbaijan brotherhood and joint activity have today become a very important element both on the bilateral and regional levels", said the President.

According to him, this visit of Abdullah Gul will mark very fruitful discussions.

"I believe this visit will mark very fruitful discussions. Our delegates will get in close contact with each other, and we will outline our future plans related to our joint activity. Once again I reiterate that our relations are multi-faceted. I believe we`ll achieve good results in all areas. Welcome once again", said Ilham Aliyev.

According to the Turkish President Abdullah Gul, it was a very fruitful meeting as political and economic issues were discussed as well as regional security issues.

"It is a great honor for me to be here on the invitation of my esteemed brother Ilham Aliyev. We are in our motherland, our own country, among our brothers. Our friendly and brotherly relations and our commitment to the spirit of being one nation is the most important. We discussed all this during our private meeting. It was a very fruitful meeting as we discussed with you political and economic issues as well as regional security issue", Abdullah Gul said.

According to him, everybody will see that Turkey and Azerbaijan are shoulder to shoulder in all areas.

"We`ve repeatedly discussed these issues with you. We regard Azerbaijan-Turkey relations beyond regular protocol relations. Our frequent meetings and discussions will greatly benefit our peoples and everybody will see that Turkey and Azerbaijan are shoulder to shoulder in all areas. In this context, I believe this visit will be very fruitful. We are here in such a hot August day. And we visited Azerbaijan in winter as well. And I believe our discussions and our ministers` meetings today will yield fruits", Abdullah Gul declared.