14.10.2026 15:32
A statement about Azerbaijan, which is at the center of the debates over the headscarf ban, also came from MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli. In his statement, Bahçeli said, "The historical, cultural, and brotherly ties between the two countries rest on our nations' shared memory and bond of hearts, beyond political developments. We are against any approach that harms brotherhood."
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli issued a statement regarding the Organization of Turkic States' term presidency. In his statement, Bahçeli, who devoted a separate section to Azerbaijan, which has recently come to the agenda with debates over the headscarf ban, drew attention to the unshakable will of Turkey-Azerbaijan brotherhood.
In his statement, Bahçeli said, “No seed of discord that would damage the brotherhood ties and bond of hearts among the Turkic world, especially Azerbaijan, should be allowed to be sown among us,” and included the statements, “We are against any approach aimed at damaging brotherhood.”
The full text of the statement is as follows:
“At a time when political, economic and geopolitical developments in the world are gaining speed, the level reached by the Organization of Turkic States is of great importance for the future of the Turkic world. The Organization of Turkic States has become the institutional ground of our common history, culture and shared vision of the future. In the vast Turkic world stretching from the Adriatic to the Great Wall of China, a new era is taking shape in which political will is strengthening, economic and commercial relations are developing, and transportation and energy links are expanding.
The increase in cooperation opportunities in many fields, especially the defense industry, technology, education, science and culture, shows that relations among Turkic states have attained a multidimensional structure.
“WE ARE TWO STRONG STATES OF THE SAME GEOGRAPHY OF HEARTS”
At the same time, relations within the Organization of Turkic States are based on the principle of respect for each member state's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and its own domestic law. Each Turkic Republic is an independent and sovereign state in its own right. Cooperation among Turkic states takes this understanding of sovereignty as its basis and develops on the basis of mutual respect, equality and common interests.
From the Aegean to the Caspian, from the past to the future, Turkey and Azerbaijan are two strong states of the same geography of hearts. In the face of any approach aimed at damaging the brotherhood ties between the two countries, it is of great importance to act on the basis of common sense, mutual understanding and common wisdom.
Turkey's forthcoming assumption of the presidency of the Organization of Turkic States is also an important responsibility and opportunity brought about by these developments. Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are one of the strongest foundations of this process. The historical, cultural and brotherhood ties between the two countries rest on the shared memory and bond of hearts of our nations, beyond political developments.
“THE SUMMIT IS OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE”
In this respect, we believe that the meeting between the Commander-in-Chief of the Karabakh Victory, President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the summit will once again demonstrate the unshakable will of Turkey-Azerbaijan brotherhood.
The Organization of Turkic States Summit to be held in Ankara in the last week of October is of historic importance in this regard. With the transfer of the term presidency from Azerbaijan to Turkey at the summit, Turkey will assume an important responsibility for realizing the common goals of the Turkic world.
Turkey has an important position in the development of the Organization thanks to its historical accumulation, state experience, economic capacity, diplomatic power and strong relations it has established with the Turkic world. During its term presidency, Turkey has a comprehensive working agenda before it.
Ministries, public institutions, universities, local governments, professional organizations and civil society structures should develop concrete, lasting and result-oriented projects in their own fields of duty in line with the Organization of Turkic States' 2040 Vision Document. The understanding of “Unity in language, thought, and action” put forward by Ismail Gasprinski maintains its guiding quality today for developing relations among Turkic states in accordance with the conditions of the age.
“COMMON WISDOM, STRONG COORDINATION”
Within this framework, cooperation mechanisms in the fields of education, culture, economy, science and technology should be strengthened; Turkey's knowledge and institutional capacity should be utilized in line with the common development goals of the Turkic world. The potential of the Turkic world has a meaning greater than the sum of the existing capabilities of our states. Transforming this potential into real power is possible through common wisdom, strong coordination, mutual respect, respect for sovereignties and a long-term perspective. Turkey's term presidency should also be a period in which this understanding is transformed into concrete results.
Our direction is clear: without allowing any seed of discord that would damage the brotherhood ties and bond of hearts among the Turkic world, especially Azerbaijan, to be sown among us, to deepen our cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for the sovereignty and independence of the Turkic republics, to build our common future with the awareness of responsibility that our history imposes on us, and to unite the goal of the Turkish and Türkiye Century with the rise of the Turkic world.
Turkey will continue to contribute to the unity, solidarity and rise goals of the Turkic world with the strength it draws from its history, its state experience and its future vision during its term presidency of the Organization of Turkic States.”