Erdogan, Aliyev strategize on liberation efforts and regional stability

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev convened at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Monday to deliberate on a spectrum of issues encompassing bilateral relations, the ongoing crisis in Gaza, and the reconstruction endeavors in recently liberated Azerbaijani territories.

President Erdogan expressed profound gratitude for Azerbaijan’s concerted efforts in reconstructing and fostering development in regions recently emancipated from decades-long Armenian occupation. The discussions underscored Türkiye’s vigilant monitoring of the withdrawal process of Russian peacekeeping forces from Karabakh, a pivotal region liberated by Azerbaijan between 2020 and 2023.

In the wake of the relentless Israeli aggression in Gaza and other Palestinian territories, Erdogan reiterated the necessity for global pressure on Israel to redress the ongoing atrocities. He reiterated that a sustainable resolution hinges upon the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Moreover, Erdogan lauded the decision to establish a Parliamentary Friendship Group between Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Extending an invitation to TRNC President Ersin Tatar for the Turkic Council Summit meeting slated for July in Shusha, Azerbaijan, Erdogan asserted that such a gesture would bolster the Cyprus cause of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Expressing gratitude to President Aliyev for extending an invitation to Türkiye for the COP29 UN climate change summit scheduled to be hosted in Baku this November, Erdogan pledged full support for the summit’s preparations. Additionally, he underscored the significance of the Zero Waste Project, spearheaded by First Lady Emine Erdogan, at the summit.

The close-knit ties between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, encapsulated by the phrase “One Nation, Two States,” are underscored by multifaceted strategic collaborations. The frequent high-level engagements serve as the linchpin for nurturing and strengthening these bilateral relations. The signing and ratification of the Shusha Declaration in 2021 underscored both nations’ unwavering commitment to elevating Turkish-Azerbaijani relations to the stature of an alliance.