The Presidents of Türkiye and Azerbaijan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ilham Aliyev, held a significant meeting in Ankara, emphasizing their nations’ strong bond and shared commitment to regional stability. The joint press conference highlighted key discussions and mutual pledges made during this historic encounter.
Addressing reporters, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan underscored the pivotal moment for establishing lasting peace in the region, emphasizing Türkiye’s unwavering support for Azerbaijan. President Erdogan congratulated President Aliyev on his re-election, hailing it as a historic milestone, with elections conducted across the entire sovereign territory for the first time in the country’s history. This meeting, President Erdogan noted, symbolizes the deep-seated brotherhood and unity between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
President Erdogan also condemned the recent decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to exclude the Azerbaijani delegation from its meetings, denouncing it as unjust. He reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to advocating for dialogue and parliamentary democracy within PACE, vowing to persist until the decision is reversed.
The leaders discussed various bilateral and regional matters of significance, including plans to elevate trade volume between Türkiye and Azerbaijan to $15 billion, the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line project, and diplomatic initiatives aimed at fostering constructive regional cooperation, including with Armenia.
President Erdogan emphasized the pivotal role of a permanent peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in fostering regional stability, affirming Türkiye’s steadfast support for Azerbaijan throughout the process.
Expressing gratitude, President Erdogan thanked the Azerbaijani people for their assistance following earthquakes in Türkiye last year.
In a notable announcement, it was revealed that an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Turkic States is scheduled to take place in Shusha, a city recently returned to Azerbaijan after decades of occupation. This summit marks another significant step in strengthening ties and collaboration among Turkic nations.
