President of Azerbaijan Aliyev: Long live the unity and brotherhood of Turkey and Azerbaijan
President of Azerbaijan Aliyev: Long live the unity and brotherhood of Turkey and Azerbaijan
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said, "Know that you have 10 million brothers in Azerbaijan. And Azerbaijanis know that we have more than 80 million Turkish brothers. Long live the unity and brotherhood of Turkey and Azerbaijan."
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated that Turkey built tens of thousands of new homes in the earthquake zone in a short time, saying, "This shows Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s devotion, love, and strong will for his people. This is the manifestation of a strong Turkey. Only a strong state can carry out such large-scale reconstruction and construction work in such a short period."
Aliyev spoke at the Key Handover and Drawing Ceremony of the 250,000th Disaster Housing Unit in the Azerbaijan Neighborhood in Kahramanmaraş.
Expressing condolences for those who lost their lives in the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, Aliyev said that the Azerbaijani people regarded this tragedy as their own.
He noted that tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis fulfilled their brotherhood duty by helping the earthquake victims.
Recalling that rescue operations and then reconstruction efforts began immediately under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Aliyev said, "Tens of thousands of new homes were provided in a short time. This demonstrates Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's devotion, love, and strong will for his people. This is the manifestation of a strong Turkey. Only a strong state can carry out such large-scale reconstruction and construction work in such a short time."
Aliyev reminded that they sent teams consisting of more than 1,000 personnel to the earthquake zone, adding that Azerbaijani search and rescue teams rescued 53 people from the rubble, and 3,000 people were treated in the field hospital established by Azerbaijan.
"The Turkish people's solidarity with us gave us strength"
Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan has always stood by Turkey, and Turkey has always stood by Azerbaijan, and said that being in Kahramanmaraş today together with President Erdoğan is a reflection of the friendship and unity between the two countries.
He pointed out that during the Karabakh War, they stood shoulder to shoulder with President Erdoğan, stating, "The political and moral support Erdoğan gave us from the very first hours of the war, the solidarity of the Turkish people with us, gave us strength. We restored historical justice. Today, the Azerbaijani people live comfortably and safely on their ancestral lands."
Aliyev also noted that the establishment of the Azerbaijan Neighborhood was a very positive development, saying, "We are always by each other’s side in both good times and bad. We strengthen each other. Today, the unity and brotherhood of Turkey and Azerbaijan are not only important in our region but are a significant factor globally. It is a symbol of security, cooperation, development, and brotherhood."
Aliyev emphasized that the declaration signed with President Erdoğan in Shusha four years ago brought Turkey-Azerbaijan relations to the highest level, saying, "The Shusha Declaration officially elevated our relations to the level of alliance. We are friends, brothers, and allies. In the political, economic, energy, transportation, and military fields, the two brotherly countries, Turkey and Azerbaijan, are advancing with faith and success."
"You have 10 million brothers in Azerbaijan"
Expressing his pleasure at visiting Kahramanmaraş for the first time, Aliyev continued:
"The people of Kahramanmaraş showed resilience during the earthquake. They knew that behind them stood a strong leader, Erdoğan, and a strong Turkey. This shows the loyalty of the people of Kahramanmaraş to their state and their leader. I extend the respect and love of the Azerbaijani people to all those living in the earthquake zone. Know that you have 10 million brothers in Azerbaijan. And Azerbaijanis know that we have more than 80 million Turkish brothers. Long live the unity and brotherhood of Turkey and Azerbaijan."