Another anti-Azerbaijan wave in Türkiye: Absurd accusations against Baku amid race for UN secretary-general post – Analysis

An anti-Azerbaijan campaign continues unabated in the Turkish media and on social media platforms.

Another anti-Azerbaijan wave in Türkiye

A new wave of anti-Azerbaijan sentiment has been launched since yesterday.

Previous waves centred on Azerbaijan-Israel relations and the issue of the hijab. Like both earlier campaigns, this third wave, which began yesterday, is also based on manipulation.

The latest campaign targeting Azerbaijan stems from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s response to an initiative to nominate Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).

Today, October 24, is United Nations Day.

In response to a media inquiry, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ayxan Hacizada said that official Baku attaches particular importance to ensuring that the process of selecting the next secretary-general is conducted in accordance with the UN Charter.

“Azerbaijan emphasises the importance of conducting the selection process on the basis of candidates’ professional qualifications, diplomatic experience, impartiality and ability to build consensus among member states. We hope that this process will conclude with an outcome that contributes to the formation of a stronger and more effective United Nations, capable of responding swiftly to contemporary challenges,” he said.

In response, accusations have begun circulating on Turkish social media claiming that Azerbaijan allegedly supports the UAE candidate rather than Türkiye’s supposed candidate for the UN secretary-general position, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, who currently serves as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Absurd accusations against Azerbaijan

As in previous waves, unfounded allegations, slander and insults targeting Azerbaijan are once again appearing in the Turkish media and on social media platforms.

Those seeking to exploit this issue as an opportunity for yet another anti-Azerbaijan campaign should be reminded that, first and foremost, the process of nominating candidates for the position of UN secretary-general is governed by strict international procedures. For a person to be considered a candidate, they must first be officially nominated by their own country, which must then formally approach other countries to seek their support.

Türkiye has not yet officially nominated Feridun Sinirlioğlu for the position of UN secretary-general. There has been no international registration of his candidacy and no formal request to Azerbaijan for support. Accusing Azerbaijan of failing to support a candidacy that does not officially exist is entirely groundless, both legally and logically.

Unlike Türkiye, the UAE has officially registered its candidate and approached Azerbaijan through diplomatic channels. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s response was fully in line with diplomatic protocol: a friendly response was given through diplomatic channels to the side that had made an official request. If Türkiye officially puts forward a candidate in the future, Azerbaijan will, naturally, respond to it through the appropriate diplomatic channels as well.

Feridun Sinirlioğlu’s lobbying for one-sided rapprochement with Armenia

However, other interesting issues arise in this context. These concern Feridun Sinirlioğlu in particular.

Feridun Sinirlioğlu belongs to a circle of “monşer” figures who have long held positions within Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry, regard themselves as superior to society and are detached from the values of the people. Historically, this group has been characterised by its condescending and arrogant attitude towards Azerbaijan and the Turkic world.

What is particularly noteworthy is that Feridun Sinirlioğlu is known for lobbying for one-sided rapprochement with Armenia. Back in 2018, when Azerbaijani territories were still under occupation, he was among the leading advocates of unilaterally opening the border with Armenia.

Even after the Second Karabakh War, together with his wife, who also held a position at the Foreign Ministry, he defended the position that “the border with Armenia should not remain closed because of Azerbaijan”, seeking to disregard Baku’s interests. On this issue, he shares the same position as Serdar Kılıç.

Feridun Sinirlioğlu has a political track record of being prepared to sacrifice not only Azerbaijan’s interests but even Türkiye’s own national and strategic interests in pursuit of the OSCE secretary-general position or other international posts.

In any case, whom Türkiye chooses to nominate for any position is its own business. However, manipulating the issue before a candidate has even been officially nominated is a continuation of the policy of artificially portraying Azerbaijan as a target.

First, a candidate should be nominated, and an official request should be made to Azerbaijan. Only then can the matter be considered and a decision taken.

Targeting Azerbaijan once again without following procedures established under international norms, and making baseless accusations against a country described as a brother, is wholly unacceptable. What is happening leaves no room for doubt that the anti-Azerbaijan campaign in Türkiye is systematic, coordinated and deliberate.