Today marks the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye.
Report informs that diplomatic relations between the two brotherly countries were established on January 14, 1992, a few months after the brotherly country recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on November 9, 1991.
In August of the same year, Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Turkiye. The Consulate General of Azerbaijan was established in Istanbul in January 1993 and in Kars in April 2004. Turkiye has the Embassy in Baku, the Consulates General in Nakhchivan and Ganja.
The relations between the two brotherly states have been built on the statement "Azerbaijan's joy is our joy, its sorrow is our sorrow" by Mustafa Kamal Ataturk, the great leader of the Turkish people, and the expression "we are one nation, two states" by Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev. Strengthening relations with Turkiye, which is a reliable strategic partner in modern times, is one of the priorities of Azerbaijan's foreign policy.
Today, Baku-Ankara relations are being successfully developed in all fields. The traditional mutual visits of the leaders of the two states - President Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan - play a significant role in the development of relations between the countries, as well as in their mutual integration.
Turkiye has always defended the internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan's fair position during the 30-year occupation of our historical territories by Armenia and provided political and moral support to Azerbaijan during the Patriotic War in 2020.
At the same time, with joint military exercises, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Turkiye exchange mutual experience. It is worth reminding that about 20 joint military exercises were held last year alone. Also, the process of adaptation of the Azerbaijani Army to the Turkish model and NATO standards continues successfully.
Azerbaijan-Turkiye relations have risen to the level of alliance with the "Shusha Declaration," signed on June 15, 2021, in the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. Thus, in addition to being two brother states, Azerbaijan and Turkiye have officially become allies. The "Shusha Declaration" also means that Azerbaijan-Turkiye relations will be brought to the next stage. Based on the "Shusha Declaration," Azerbaijan-Turkiye relations are developing and deepening in every field in accordance with the realities of the new era. For this purpose, all our state institutions cooperate with their Turkish counterparts in the spirit of the "Shusha Declaration."
The practical results of the "Shusha Declaration" are already bearing fruit. Thus, concrete steps are being taken to apply the "Turkish model" in Azerbaijani Army. Other state institutions are adapting their routines to the requirements of the "Shusha Declaration."
Today, Azerbaijan-Turkiye cooperation contributes not only to bilateral relations but also to regional security and stability. In particular, official Ankara's sincerity and determination towards normalizing relations with Armenia are important for peace in the South Caucasus.