Baku: Azerbaijan's victory in Karabakh will pave the way for lasting peace through the constructive attitudes of Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, stated the Turkish president. Ankara, committed to supporting this process, remains hopeful about the prospects for enduring peace, as expressed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a ceremony in Baku marking the fifth anniversary of Azerbaijan's Victory Day.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan, alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, attended the event, praising Aliyev's efforts towards establishing peace. Erdogan acknowledged the significant steps taken by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and emphasized that Azerbaijan's victory marks a milestone toward stability in the Caucasus.
Erdogan highlighted that Azerbaijan's triumph in Karabakh rectified a longstanding injustice, ushering in a new era and shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region. He celebrated the actions of the Azerbaijani Army during the 44-day war in 2020 as a significant chapter in Turkic history.
The Turkish president's visit to Azerbaijan coincided with the observance of Azerbaijan's Victory Day, established after the liberation of Shusha. Initially set for November 10, the celebration was moved to avoid overlapping with the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's passing.
In terms of regional cooperation, Erdogan noted the strengthening ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan through strategic projects like the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli project and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline. He underscored the importance of developing new routes in the Caucasus to enhance transportation and energy transmission.
Erdogan also highlighted ongoing solidarity efforts within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and expressed optimism for future cooperation during Azerbaijan's rotating presidency. He praised UNESCO's recent decision to designate December 15 as World Turkic Language Family Day, promoting a shared language and cultural heritage among Turkic-speaking nations.