President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a statement to the press in Shusha after a one-on-one meeting with Ilham Aliyev. In a statement published by the Azerbaijani presidential administration, the Turkish leader began by honoring the memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for the liberation of Karabakh and wishing the war veterans good health.
“Six years ago, the people of Azerbaijan, united under the decisive leadership of my brother Ilham Aliyev, heroically fought and liberated Karabakh. This glorious Victory became the finest embodiment of Azerbaijan’s just struggle and remains a source of pride for the entire Turkic world,” Erdoğan said. He said it was especially meaningful to mark the anniversary in Shusha, which poets celebrated as a corner of scenic nature and a center of culture.
“One nation, two states”
Erdoğan recalled that the two countries’ relations had withstood numerous tests over time. “The unity of hearts expressed by the saying ‘one nation, two states’ draws strength from our common past, lighting the way to the future with an inextinguishable flame,” he said.
The video shows an excerpt from Erdoğan’s briefing in Shusha, where the Turkish president, seated next to Aliyev, describes the alliance between the two countries with the formula “one nation, two states.”
Speaking about the Shusha Declaration, signed on June 15, 2021, Erdoğan stressed that it cemented the brotherhood of the two nations through an alliance. “Those who try to weaken our brotherhood will never achieve their goals. It was so, it is so and it will remain so! Our unity will be eternal!” he said.
Relying on the Organization of Turkic States
Erdoğan devoted a separate part of his speech to the Turkic world. “We are making every effort to ensure that this vision is widely embraced in the Turkic world as well. The high level reached by the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) today is a concrete result of our joint efforts and an expression of our common will,” he said.
The Turkish leader thanked Azerbaijan for its efforts to strengthen the unity of the Turkic world during Baku’s chairmanship of the OTS and pledged that, when the chairmanship passes to Türkiye, his country would work to improve the organization’s effectiveness and strengthen its institutional foundation.
In this excerpt, Erdoğan speaks about the role of the OTS and thanks Azerbaijan for its work as chair of the organization.
Peace and the reconstruction of Karabakh
Erdoğan said the 44-day war had opened a new page in the history of the South Caucasus, and that the task now was to consolidate the Victory achieved on the battlefield through lasting peace and stability. He stressed that Türkiye had supported Azerbaijan’s just struggle and continued to support Baku’s efforts to secure lasting peace. In his speech, Aliyev recalled that Azerbaijan and Armenia had initialed a peace agreement more than a year ago, but had not yet affixed the final signatures.
Erdoğan pledged that Türkiye would continue to share its experience and contribute to the reconstruction of Karabakh. “Every new hearth lit by families returning to Karabakh, every new project implemented and every historical heritage site restored demonstrates the Azerbaijani people’s faith in the future,” he said.
The Turkish president concluded his speech with lines by poet Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh and congratulated Azerbaijanis on November 9, State Flag Day. “Türkiye will continue to stand by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s sorrow is our sorrow, and its joy is our joy!” Erdoğan said.
Photo: Anadolu, press service of the President of Azerbaijan. Video: social media
