UPDATE 2 - Turkish, Azerbaijani presidents inaugurate Zangilan airport

ADDS MORE INFORMATION

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Thursday jointly inaugurated a new airport in an area liberated from the Armenian occupation.

Erdogan is the first foreign head of state to land at Zangilan International Airport, Azerbaijan’s second airport in territories reclaimed from Armenia during the 2020 Karabakh War.

The two leaders were presented with the symbolic keys of the airport after cutting the ribbon. They also toured the airport following the opening ceremony.

In October 2021, Erdogan joined Aliyev in the official opening of Fuzuli International Airport.

During the Turkish leader’s one-day working visit, the presidents broke ground for new projects for the development of the region.

Earlier in the day, Erdogan participated in the opening of the Dost Agropark smart agricultural village project in Zangilan.

Later, he separately attended the groundbreaking ceremonies of Kumlak Train Station, Azerbaijan-Türkiye International Forest Education Center, and Intelligent Arboriculture and Friendship Forest Complex in Jabrayil district.

Aliyev welcomed Erdogan with an official ceremony in Jabrayil, where the leaders will hold talks to discuss bilateral relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, and steps to enhance cooperation. They will also exchange views on current regional and global developments.

Earlier this month, Erdogan, Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a brief conversation ahead of the European Political Community summit in the Czech capital, Prague.

Following the meeting, Erdogan said Ankara wants to improve ties between the three countries and resolve outstanding issues.