Azerbaijan to support Türkiye in restoring quake-affected territories Azerbaijani FM's speech at OTS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov took part in a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Turkic States [OTS] in Ankara on March 16.

While delivering a speech at the meeting, Bayramov said that the extraordinary summit of the OTS heads of state, which will be held on the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on March 16, is aimed at demonstrating solidarity with Türkiye, which suffered from the powerful earthquakes on February 6, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Caliber.Az.

The minister expressed confidence that Türkiye and the Turkish people will adequately cope with the consequences of the earthquake in the shortest period of time.

He noted that the Azerbaijani and Turkish peoples, who share both the joy and pain of each other, demonstrate solidarity in this difficult period.

Bayramov noted the importance of sending search and rescue teams and humanitarian aid by the international community, including member states of the Organisation of Turkic States and observers, to eliminate the consequences of the earthquake.

He noted that Azerbaijan, which has been close to Türkiye since the first day of the natural disaster, will continue supporting the fraternal country in restoring the earthquake-affected territories.

The minister emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation, and joint activity of the member states of the Organisation of Turkic States in preparing for emergency situations and implementing rapid response measures to them, the importance of the practical implementation of the roadmap for creating a civil defence mechanism of the OTS.

While noting that the ongoing events in the region and in the world increase the importance of cooperation in transport and communications, Bayramov informed the meeting participants about the work to create a new transport infrastructure in the liberated Azerbaijani territories, including the commissioning of the Zangazur corridor.

He expressed confidence that Azerbaijan's efforts will create conditions for the use of the transit potential of the Middle Corridor and will contribute to strengthening regional peace and security.

Foreign ministers of other OTS member states also delivered speeches at the meeting. The documents and draft political declarations, which must be approved by the leaders of the countries, were considered.