In an editorial published in the official Azerbaijani Gazette, Turkish President Erdoğan’s remarks regarding Karabakh, made during an AKP Rize Provincial Organization meeting, were strongly criticized. During his speech at the AKP Rize Provincial Organization meeting last month, Erdoğan mentioned Israel, saying, “Just as we entered Karabakh and Libya, we can do the same to them.” The editorial in the official gazette, which is published by the Azerbaijani National Assembly and enacts laws, decrees, regulations, and circulars, harshly criticized Erdoğan’s statements.
Here are the key excerpts from the statement:
The 44-day Patriotic War and the 23-hour anti-terror measures not only ended the 30-year occupation that Azerbaijan faced, but also fully established the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and constitutional structure. The “iron fist” forever eradicated Armenian separatism, which had a sinister and bloody 200-year history.
This military victory is the most glorious achievement in our entire history. At the same time, it is the most fundamental indicator of Azerbaijan’s regional leadership, growing global influence, and increasing role as a significant economic and political actor within the new realities created by Azerbaijan during its strongest period.
So, who is the owner of this victory, and what is the reason for this victory?
The answer to this question can be found in President Ilham Aliyev’s speeches: “The owner of the victory is our glorious army, our brave soldiers, our heroic people.”… “We achieved this victory through professionalism and heroism, as well as with the power of national spirit.”
(…) The statements made by Turkey’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan from 2001-2004, Ünal Çeviköz, during the war, disappointed all of us.
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Currently, some segments of Turkish public opinion and media outlets are making claims that other countries also contributed to the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation.
And unfortunately, the Turkish media, forgetting topics of public interest, has created a new artificial agenda. The interpretation of the well-known statement that “just as we entered Karabakh, we will enter Jerusalem” and that there will be military intervention in Israel is being pursued in a biased direction, distorting the truth, and heading towards an outright provocation. We understood the Armenian lies and the slander of Ünal Çeviköz—their intentions and goals are clear. But it is truly sad to see that some of those who uttered these slanders were considered friends.
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There were points we overlooked many times in order not to cast a shadow on the relations between the two states. But now, it is not appropriate to dwell on this issue. Let’s ask the question, “How did Turkey help Azerbaijan in the Patriotic War?” (Actually, this is a rhetorical question!)
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Our people, our army, and our commander are witnessing, with disappointment and deep sadness, the efforts to seize and claim the rightful victory in their name by all of Azerbaijan.
Our hearts break and are hurt when we hear the vile lies of the Armenians from our brothers, and the words we hear from an unexpected place come as a heavy moral blow. The results of Azerbaijan’s victory belong to the entire Turkic world, but its architect does not include Turkey…
The well-known statements made in Turkey distort the realities of the 44-day war. Most importantly, they serve the Armenian agenda!
Our ancestors said that the right hand should not know what the left hand gives, and that a brother should not boast about what he does for another brother. Even assuming that Turkey provided every kind of support in addition to political and moral support in the Patriotic War, why should Armenia and world Armenians, including the US, France, and other well-known states and powers, declare this as a ground for manipulation?
It is fundamentally wrong to claim that Turkey or any other country participated in the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation, and provided other assistance, especially in the military field, in addition to political and moral support. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, this is giving ground to our common enemy, the world Armenians!
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The sad statements coming from Turkey also mention unconditional military ammunition aid to Azerbaijan. (…)
Moreover, the information published as “military arsenal assistance” is also incorrect. All of this concerns the commercial aspect of military cooperation. In other words, gentlemen, we paid for every bullet, ammunition, and equipment we received!
