Erdoğan uses a particular expression about Azerbaijan for the first time – ANALYSIS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has congratulated the people of Azerbaijan on the Day of Restoration of Independence. In a post published on his account on Türkiye’s social media platform NSosyal on October 18, he conveyed his greetings to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan.

In his post, Erdoğan used the expression “my Azerbaijani Turk brothers”. The fact that the Turkish president used this particular phrase for the first time has attracted attention.

Speaking to TodayPress TV on the subject, political analyst Oktay Gasimov described Erdoğan’s message as significant in the context of Azerbaijan–Türkiye relations.

According to him, the post carries particular importance against the backdrop of campaigns targeting Azerbaijan by certain circles in Türkiye in recent times.

“Turkish President Erdoğan’s post yesterday marking the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence was, of course, very important. It is particularly significant amid the campaign against Azerbaijan conducted by certain circles in Türkiye in recent times.”

Commenting on Erdoğan’s use of the phrase “my Azerbaijani Turk brothers”, the political analyst said this wording was a logical one in view of Azerbaijan’s ethnic and national characteristics.

“Erdoğan’s expression ‘my Azerbaijani Turk brothers’ is a fairly logical approach. Although Azerbaijan is a multiethnic state, ethnic Azerbaijanis, or Azerbaijani Turks, constitute the country’s principal ethnic group. Other ethnic groups are also valuable members of Azerbaijani society.”

Gasimov stressed that representatives of different ethnic groups live together in Azerbaijan and noted that all nationalities and ethnic communities are treated with respect in society.

“We treat all ethnic groups and nationalities living in Azerbaijan with respect, and in this regard, Azerbaijan is one of the most tolerant countries in the world. The Turkish president’s congratulatory message marking the restoration of independence is noteworthy both in terms of its content and the timing. I believe this message was a sufficiently sincere and appropriate statement about our independence and was particularly important against the backdrop of tensions in recent days and weeks,” the political analyst concluded.

Turkan Isgandarli