UPDATE- Turkish president pins hope for regional peace on 6-nation platform

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY TURKISH PRESIDENT; ADDS SHUSHA DECLARATION SIGNED BETWEEN ANKARA AND BAKU; REVISES DECK; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Seda Sevencan and Faruk Zorlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said he is pinning hope for regional peace on a six-nation platform comprising Turkey, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.

The Turkish president reached Azerbaijan earlier on Tuesday on an official visit.

In a joint news conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan's Shusha city, Erdogan said: "We are willing to make all kinds of sacrifices. Mr. Putin as well. ... With the steps to be taken in this regard, the region will become a peace zone."

Erdogan said that Karabakh would regain its former glory and self-identity and that there is no doubt about it.

The president went on to say that Turkey has always contributed to Azerbaijan in all kinds of reconstruction activities as in its struggle for freedom, and will continue to do so.

Erdogan reminded that after the Nagorno-Karabakh cease-fire, new cooperation opportunities have emerged for all parties in the region. "As Turkey, we also want to direct our geographical neighborly relations towards deeper cooperation.”

"We hope Armenia will grasp this hand extended in solidarity, take an opportunity to shape a common future together," he added.

Turkey is planning to open a consulate general in the recently liberated city of Shusha as soon as possible, Erdogan noted.

He also said the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting would be held in Turkey.

Noting that they had taken important steps in bilateral trade, he said: "We are proceeding step by step towards our goal of expanding our trade volume to $15 billion in 2023.”

Erdogan added that they would further expand the scope of bilateral commercial and economic cooperation.

Turkey considers Azerbaijan's Zangezur Corridor Project important and supports it, he stressed, and said: "With putting into practice of this project, a new middle corridor will be opened that everyone can benefit from east to west; this is very important."

- Shusha Declaration

In advance of the joint news conference, Erdogan and Aliyev also signed the Shusha Declaration.

“With the Shusha Declaration, we determined a roadmap of our relations for the new period,” Erdogan said.

Turkey and Azerbaijan declared the expansion and deepening of bilateral relations by examining all aspects, according to the declaration signed between Ankara and Baku.

Both sides will support each other in case of a threat or attack by a third country on their independence or territorial integrity, said the Shusha Declaration.

The parties emphasized that Turkey's contribution plays a significant role in the activities of a joint Turkish and Russian center at Azerbaijan's liberated land.

It noted that with the opening of the Zangezur corridor, the Nakhchivan-Kars railway line will contribute to the further enhancement of relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The declaration also mentions that the military and political cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan is not against any third state.

Armenia's baseless claims against Turkey and its attempts to distort history harm peace and stability in the region, the Shusha Declaration also noted.

Turkey and Azerbaijan will boost cooperation, especially against terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.

The security councils of the two countries will regularly hold joint meetings on national security issues, according to the Shusha Declaration.