Kars is a historical place of the ancient Turkic world, and the opening of the Heydar Aliyev technical lycée here, is of great importance, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Mar.17 during the opening ceremony for the lycée in Turkey`s Kars province.

Aliyev expressed satisfaction for visiting the brotherly state of Turkey once again, Turkish TRT Haber TV channel reported.

"Today, after landing at the Kars airport, I first visited the park named after Heydar Aliyev and the monument in his honor," Azerbaijani president said. He expressed deep gratitude for the respect to Azerbaijan`s National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Kars and Turkey in general.

"Heydar Aliyev had great merits for the development of Turkish-Azerbaijani relations," the president said, adding that he was constantly making efforts for further strengthening of Turkish-Azerbaijani unity and brotherhood.

Azerbaijani president also reminded of Heydar Aliyev`s famous "Turkey-Azerbaijan: one nation, two states" expression, which serves as an example.

"We are committed to this policy, and with my dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan we have made great efforts in the last 11 years to further strengthen the Turkish-Azerbaijani unity," Aliyev said.

"We are together on all issues," said the president. "We managed to raise our political relations to the highest level and always support each other in all international organizations."

Turkey`s growing power strengthens Azerbaijan as well, the president said, adding that comprehensive development in Turkey is obvious.

"Turkey today is the center of power on a global scale and under the leadership of my dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it has come a long way in recent years," Aliyev said, adding that the work done in Kars today also proves this.

The president went on to add that the buildings, schools, social facilities built in Kars have changed its look.

Aliyev also added that Turkey is the leader of the G-20.

"Turkey has invited the brotherly state - Azerbaijan - to this important event," said Aliyev. "In this regard, I would like to express gratitude to my dear brother, Turkish president, once again. This is a genuine brotherly attitude."

Ilham Aliyev added that the two countries are strengthening their brotherly relations everywhere.

Azerbaijani president reminded of the foundation of the TANAP project in Kars.

"TANAP is our joint project. The agreement on this project was signed in Istanbul three years ago and today we are laying the foundation of this project," said the president.

Aliyev said joint projects of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia strengthen the countries, open new opportunities for their peoples, create new jobs and strengthen their economic and political power.

Furthermore, the head of state said Azerbaijan has started to make investments in Turkey.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) started to make a total of $20 billion worth investments in Turkey`s economy, according to the president.

"All our significant energy projects will be implemented with these investments," Aliyev said, adding that SOCAR has also started investing in Turkey`s education sector, five lycées and schools were built in Kars, Ankara, Kocaeli, Ceyhan and Aliaga.

"These are investments made in the education sector, that`s to say, in our future," said Aliyev.

The head of Azerbaijani state added that the level of education, science is the factor ensuring the successful development of each country.

He said it is necessary to make efforts for further development of these spheres both in Azerbaijan and Turkey, for the Azerbaijani and Turkish youth to be literate and educated.

"Today, knowledge and education determine everything in the world. They determine technological progress and development," the president said. "In the future, the countries with a high level of education will be even stronger."

"Therefore, the attention paid to this sphere in Turkey, makes us extremely happy. Education sphere is also a priority in Azerbaijan," President Aliyev said. "Over the past 10 years, around 3,000 schools have been built and repaired in Azerbaijan, and excellent conditions have been created for our youth."

He added that the specialists, who will protect the interests of Turkey and Azerbaijan, will study at the school opened in Kars.

"This is a center of friendship and brotherhood of Azerbaijan and Turkey. The opening of such a school sincerely makes us all happy," he said. "The youth must be literate, educated, and at the same time, patriotic, they should be tied to their motherland, as well as have a good knowledge of history."

The president said the youth should know and promote historical truth.

Moreover, the head of state said that by implementing energy and transport projects, Azerbaijan and Turkey are even more strengthening their unity.

"It is not accidental that the foundation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was also laid in Kars and the foundation of TANAP will also be laid there," said the president.

Aliyev said the president of brotherly state of Georgia is also attending the ceremony and expressed gratitude to him in this regard. "He has arrived in Kars to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for TANAP project, but he is also taking part in the opening of the school named after Heydar Aliyev."

"Our trilateral cooperation, brotherhood and unity are everlasting," said the president, adding that the three countries - Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia - will continue being together, jointly build their future and will always support each other.

Furthermore, Ilham Aliyev said he is glad to visit Kars. "I see Kars has been renewed, it has become a developing city and I`m grateful to you, the government of Turkey, the head of state for this."

He said Kars is valuable for the whole Turkic world and expressed confidence that the work that is today underway in Kars, especially, the implementation of the TANAP project, will open new opportunities for this province. “Long live the unity and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkey!”

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