Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Tuesday that Ankara backs Baku in its push for regional stability. He spoke during a joint news conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the city of Shusha.
The two leaders gathered to mark the sixth anniversary of the liberation of Karabakh. Erdogan stated that just as Ankara backed Baku during its just struggle, the country now supports sincere efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.
Erdogan said the liberation of Azerbaijani territories during the 44-day Second Karabakh War in 2020 opened a new era in the South Caucasus. He also commended ongoing reconstruction work across the recovered territories.
"We greatly appreciate Azerbaijan’s efforts to rebuild Karabakh and restore the region to its former vitality," Erdogan told reporters.
The Turkish leader pointed to deep historical ties between the two countries. He said bilateral relations reached their current advanced level after passing through various historical tests.
Erdogan emphasized that the principle of one nation, two states, rooted in shared history, will continue guiding their common future. He also pointed to the importance of the Shusha Declaration, signed on June 15, 2021, which formally elevated bilateral ties to an alliance.
"Those seeking to weaken our brotherhood, reinforced by the alliance we forged with the declaration signed in Shusha on June 15, 2021, will never achieve their goals, now or in the future, just as they failed in the past," Erdogan stated.
Aliyev expressed appreciation for the backing provided by Ankara during the 2020 conflict, stressing that Baku will always remember the solidarity shown by Erdogan and the Turkish public.
"Throughout the 44 days of the Second Karabakh War, you and the brotherly Turkish people stood by our side. This will never be forgotten," Aliyev said.
The Azerbaijani president characterized bilateral relations as eternal and unshakable, warning that any attempts to damage their close partnership would fail.
"Our unity and brotherhood with Türkiye are unshakable. Those who seek to drive a wedge between us will never succeed," Aliyev concluded.
