08.11.2026 15:51
Messages of brotherhood dominated the joint press conference held by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Shusha. While Aliyev said, "No one can try to come between Turkey and Azerbaijan's brotherhood," Erdoğan emphasized that those who want to weaken this brotherhood will not achieve their goals. At the end of the meeting, the two leaders held hands and raised them in the air. As a storm of applause broke out in the hall, the delegation members stood up.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Karabakh, where he went to attend Azerbaijan's November 8 Victory Day celebrations. At the meeting held in Shusha, the two leaders emphasized the historical ties between Türkiye and Azerbaijan and the solidarity shown during the Second Karabakh War. While Aliyev stated that Türkiye's support would not be forgotten, Erdoğan said that those seeking to weaken the brotherhood between the two countries would not achieve their goals.
ALIYEV: THE SUPPORT OF THE TURKISH PEOPLE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev thanked President Erdoğan, recalling that Türkiye stood by Azerbaijan during the Second Karabakh War. Stating that Türkiye's support throughout the war was of great importance to the Azerbaijani people, Aliyev said, 'During the Second Karabakh War, for 44 days you and the brotherly Turkish people stood by us. This will never be forgotten.'
Emphasizing that relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan are not limited to diplomatic contacts, Aliyev stated that the two countries are bound to each other by shared history, culture, and ties of brotherhood. The Azerbaijani President drew attention to the fact that Türkiye's solidarity during the Karabakh War further strengthened the friendship between the two countries.
'NO ONE CAN COME BETWEEN THE BROTHERHOOD OF TÜRKİYE AND AZERBAIJAN'
One of Aliyev's most notable statements at the press conference concerned the future of relations between the two countries. Stating that Türkiye and Azerbaijan have an unshakable friendship, Aliyev said, 'We have an unshakable friendship with Türkiye. No one can try to come between the brotherhood of Türkiye and Azerbaijan.'
Expressing that the solidarity between the two countries is at a level rarely seen in the world, Aliyev reiterated his message of brotherhood with the words, 'There are no peoples or states in the world as closely bound to each other as we are.' Aliyev also touched on President Erdoğan's position in the international arena and said, 'Erdoğan is a great power in the world.'
A REMARKABLE MESSAGE OF BROTHERHOOD AFTER THE HEADSCARF CRISIS
Aliyev's statements drew attention because they came after the debates over the headscarf ban in Azerbaijan. Appearing before the cameras together with Erdoğan, Aliyev emphasized that the friendship between the two countries is unshakable and that no one can come between this brotherhood.
Aliyev's words stood out as a message that relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan would continue strongly. While the Azerbaijani President did not directly address the headscarf debate in the speech cited, he highlighted the importance of unity and togetherness between the two countries.
ERDOĞAN: I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE ON THE 6TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KARABAKH VICTORY
Speaking after Aliyev, President Erdoğan expressed his satisfaction at being in Azerbaijan on the 6th anniversary of the Karabakh Victory. Drawing attention to the historical and cultural importance of Shusha, Erdoğan began his speech with the following words:
'My respected dear brother, valuable members of the delegation, valuable members of the press, I greet you with the most heartfelt feelings and affection on behalf of myself, my country, and my nation. I am filled with happiness at being together with you on the sixth anniversary of the Karabakh Victory. '
Stating that being in Shusha held a special meaning for him, Erdoğan described the city with the poet's words and used the phrases, 'Like the most precious word crafted in our language, like a hearth that warms our soul, like an ember.' Erdoğan said he was also pleased to celebrate Victory Day in Shusha, a city of history, nature, and culture.
'THE KARABAKH VICTORY IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THE ENTIRE TURKIC GEOGRAPHY'
In his speech, President Erdoğan also commemorated those who lost their lives for Karabakh's freedom. Wishing mercy for the martyrs and health and long life for the veterans, Erdoğan recalled the struggle the Azerbaijani people waged in 2020.
Erdoğan said, 'Six years ago, the Azerbaijani people, united under the resolute leadership of my brother Ilham, restored Karabakh to freedom with great heroism. This glorious victory continues to be the finest manifestation of Azerbaijan's just cause and a source of pride for the entire Turkic geography.'
Stating that the Karabakh Victory is important not only for Azerbaijan but for the entire Turkic world, Erdoğan gave the message that Türkiye will stand by Azerbaijan in the future, as it did in the past.
'BAKU'S JOY IS ANKARA'S JOY'
Explaining that relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan have passed many tests throughout history and reached their current level, Erdoğan stated that the two countries are moving toward the future with strength drawn from their shared past.
Drawing attention to the understanding of 'One nation, two states,' President Erdoğan used the following expressions:
'This unity of hearts, which we describe with the motto 'One nation, two states,' is an inextinguishable torch that lights our tomorrows with strength drawn from our shared past. Our brotherhood goes far beyond a shared language, history, and culture. That is why we regard Baku's joy as Ankara's joy and Shusha's pride as the pride of our entire nation. '
These words of Erdoğan carried the same message as Aliyev's statements that no one could destroy the brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
'THOSE WHO WANT TO WEAKEN OUR BROTHERHOOD WILL NOT ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS'
President Erdoğan, recalling the Shusha Declaration signed in Shusha on June 15, 2021, said that relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan had been raised to the level of alliance.
Stating that the solidarity between the two countries cannot be weakened by any initiative, Erdoğan said, 'Those who want to weaken this brotherhood, which we strengthened with the bond of alliance through the declaration we signed in Shusha on June 15, 2021, will never achieve their goals, just as they did not yesterday, nor today, nor tomorrow. With God's permission, our togetherness will always endure.'
Erdoğan stated that they are working to strengthen the understanding of unity between Türkiye and Azerbaijan throughout the entire Turkic world. Expressing that the level reached by the Organization of Turkic States is the result of joint will and efforts, Erdoğan thanked Azerbaijan for its efforts during its chairmanship.
He said that during Türkiye's chairmanship, work would also be carried out to make the organization more effective and give it a more institutional structure.
ERDOĞAN'S MESSAGE OF LASTING PEACE IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
President Erdoğan stated that Azerbaijan's regaining its territories in the Second Karabakh War, which lasted 44 days, marked the beginning of a new era in the South Caucasus. Drawing attention to the importance of ensuring regional peace after the military victory, Erdoğan stated that Türkiye supports Azerbaijan's efforts in this direction.
Erdoğan, 'The task before us today is to crown the victory won on the battlefields with lasting peace and stability. "Just as we embrace Azerbaijan's just struggle, we also support its sincere efforts to establish lasting peace in our region," he said.
Erdoğan, also touching on the ongoing reconstruction work in Karabakh, stated that they follow with appreciation Azerbaijan's efforts to revive the region. President Erdoğan drew attention to the work in the region with the words, "Every hearth lit again in Karabakh, every monument rising, and every historical heritage restored show the Azerbaijani people's faith in the future."
TWO LEADERS JOINED HANDS, A STORM OF APPLAUSE ERUPTED IN THE HALL
At the end of the joint press conference, striking images emerged that complemented the messages of brotherhood given by the two leaders. President Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Aliyev, after their speeches, held hands and raised their hands into the air.
In these moments in front of the Turkish and Azerbaijani flags, applause rose in the hall. While the delegation members suddenly stood up, the image of the two leaders together was applauded for a long time. The smiles on the faces of Erdoğan and Aliyev also drew attention.
These moments, which took place after Aliyev's words "No one can try to come between Turkey and Azerbaijan's brotherhood" and Erdoğan's message "Those who want to weaken our brotherhood will never achieve their goals," left their mark on the finale of the joint press conference.
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