Ilham Aliyev’s remarks about Atatürk make headlines in Turkish media

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s heartfelt and powerful remarks in the memorial book at Anıtkabir during his official visit to Türkiye have resonated widely with the Turkish public and media. Turkish writers and intellectuals have described the gesture as another expression of the unbreakable unity between the two countries.

In response to recent unfounded discussions on social media surrounding diplomatic protocol, Turkish public figures and writers have recalled past protocol controversies and highlighted Aliyev’s profound respect for the Turkic world and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s legacy. They have noted that, unlike certain foreign leaders who have previously shown disregard for Türkiye’s state protocol, the Azerbaijani president has consistently paid deep respect to Atatürk’s memory and upheld the brotherly ties between Azerbaijan and Türkiye at the highest level.

In the message, which has been widely shared and received numerous likes on social media, Aliyev wrote:

“I commemorate with the deepest respect the cherished memory of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a great son of the Turkic world, a talented military commander and a brilliant leader. One hundred years ago, by establishing the Republic of Türkiye, his greatest achievement, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk inscribed his name in golden letters on the pages of world history and forever in the hearts of his people.

“As President of brotherly Azerbaijan, I take particular pride in witnessing the level of development, prosperity, strength and global standing achieved today by the state founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

“Preserving the unbreakable brotherhood, unity and solidarity between Azerbaijan and Türkiye — the greatest wealth of our peoples — and passing it on to future generations, while comprehensively developing and strengthening our strategic alliance, is one of the highest responsibilities facing our two countries. The cherished memory of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the great figure who regarded Azerbaijan’s joy as his own and its sorrow as his own, will always live on in the hearts of the Azerbaijani people. May his soul rest in peace.”

Turkish media outlets and social media users have highlighted these words as a powerful affirmation of the “one nation, two states” philosophy underpinning relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye and their strategic alliance.

Ismayil Shahli