Turkish President: We once again demonstrated solidarity with Azerbaijan in Khankendi

"The holding of the ECO Summit in the liberated city of Khankendi, as well as the presence of Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), in the discussion hall, turned this prestigious event into a particularly significant occasion for Türkiye," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during a conversation with journalists accompanying him at the 17th ECO Summit held in Azerbaijan.

He recalled that Türkiye is one of the founding members of the ECO regional platform, which unites countries with a total area of 8 million square kilometers and a population of over half a billion.

"From the perspective of the geopolitical positions of the participating countries, the Economic Cooperation Organization is of particular importance in terms of contributing to the deepening of interstate cooperation. The ECO countries share common values, and the dialogue between them is based on historical brotherhood. We aim for a fruitful partnership in economy and trade. There is consensus on this," Recep Tayyip Erdoğan affirmed.

The Turkish President also recalled his visit to Azerbaijan on May 28 — Independence Day — saying: "We were in Lachin, where we inaugurated the airport together with my brother Ilham Aliyev," the head of state noted.

"This time in Khankendi, statements were made supporting peace, stability, and development. We once again demonstrated our solidarity with Azerbaijan. I hope that this visit will contribute to further strengthening ties and brotherhood with the ECO countries," said Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expressing his confidence that the decisions adopted would be successfully implemented.

He emphasized that Türkiye is a country that friendly nations can fully rely on.

Returning to the topic of relations with Azerbaijan, the Turkish President noted that the dialogue between Ankara and Baku is of a special nature.

He said: "Türkiye and Azerbaijan are not merely friendly states, but countries bound to each other by ties of brotherhood. The phrase ‘One nation, two states’ has a deep meaning rooted in concrete actions. Our unity has withstood the test of time."

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Ankara cannot remain indifferent to the developments in the region. "All parties will benefit from peace and stability in the South Caucasus," the politician said, adding that the diplomatic framework of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia had already been agreed upon. "Following the negotiations held in Brussels, Moscow, and Tbilisi in late 2024, the final text of the peace agreement was agreed upon. Armenia initially opposed the Zangezur corridor, but now it is showing a more flexible position and wishes to participate in economic integration. Development in the region is not only an opportunity for Azerbaijan, but also for Armenia, Türkiye, Iran, and other countries," he emphasized.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that the importance of the Zangezur corridor will continue to grow and will open up new prospects for the entire region.

The Turkish President described the Zangezur corridor as "part of a geopolitical and geoeconomic revolution." He added: "The opening of the Zangezur corridor will also be a strategic event for the Middle Corridor. Using this route, Turkish goods will be delivered to Central Asian countries and China in a shorter period of time."

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan highlighted that the opening of the Zangezur corridor will not only increase cargo flow by road, but also by rail.

According to the Turkish leader, the opening of the Zangezur corridor will serve as a stimulus for the Kars-Iğdır-Nakhchivan railway line and will also make it possible to increase investments in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.

He stressed: "The world is changing, and this situation requires new steps to be taken. It is important to keep pace with the times and to make use of potential. The peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan will change the entire ‘climate’ in the region and open new windows of opportunity. This will give rise to a rare and beneficial model of cooperation that has long gone unused due to conflicts and wars."

Regarding the tension arising from the unlawful actions of Russian security forces in Yekaterinburg, the Turkish President noted that Ankara has diplomatic and strategic relations with both Azerbaijan and Russia: "We are closely monitoring the tension and call on both sides to remain calm. We believe that a reasonable solution can be found through statements aimed at reducing diplomatic tensions."

The Turkish President expressed his hope that the negative developments in relations between Moscow and Baku would soon be left in the past. "Our greatest wish is that these events do not cause serious damage to relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. Local incidents and their consequences must not go beyond acceptable limits. It is important to remain calm. I am confident that the two friendly countries will be able to resolve this issue," he stressed.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan assured that Ankara is continuing its constructive efforts to support the resolution of this issue. He added: "Our priority is to prevent sharp escalations in tension and instability in a region that has already experienced enough wars and conflicts."

The Turkish leader once again expressed confidence in a diplomatic solution to the situation. "This issue was also discussed during the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. Ilham Aliyev is taking very cautious and careful steps and is opposed to escalation," Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concluded.

 
Ramin Abdullayev
Special correspondent