President Aliyev: President Erdoğan Plays a Major Role in the Unification of the Turkic World
President Aliyev: President Erdoğan Plays a Major Role in the Unification of the Turkic World
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the unity and brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan have made significant contributions to the Turkic world, saying, "President Erdoğan plays a major role in the unification of the Turkic world."
President Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Iğdır-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline.
Recalling that he and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan laid the foundation of the Iğdır-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline one and a half years ago, Aliyev emphasized that today is an important day in the history of Türkiye-Azerbaijan friendship and brotherhood.
Aliyev noted that Nakhchivan, a historical Azerbaijani land, has been separated from the mainland for over a century and lacks a land connection due to the Soviet administration's decision to detach Western Zangezur from Azerbaijan and merge it with Armenia.
Stating that this injustice has severely impacted the lives of their compatriots in Nakhchivan, Aliyev continued:
"During the First Karabakh War, Armenia blockaded Nakhchivan. Just as they occupied Karabakh, they also intended to occupy Nakhchivan. At that time, my father, Heydar Aliyev, who was the head of Nakhchivan, prevented this. One of the reasons why Nakhchivan was not occupied was the construction of the Ümit Bridge between Nakhchivan and Türkiye. The aid coming from Türkiye played a crucial role in keeping Nakhchivan free."
Aliyev highlighted that Türkiye and Azerbaijan, as two brotherly nations, have carried out major projects together, stating, "Projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, and TANAP oil and natural gas pipelines have not only connected our countries but have also reshaped the energy map of Eurasia."
Pointing out that Azerbaijani gas transported via Türkiye ensures the energy security of many countries, Aliyev said, "Last year, Azerbaijan’s gas exports reached 25 billion cubic meters. Half of this was exported to Türkiye. Apart from Türkiye, 10 European countries strengthen their energy security with Azerbaijani gas."
Aliyev stated that the newly inaugurated Iğdır-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline would ensure the energy security of Nakhchivan, solving its energy issues by transmitting gas from Azerbaijan through Türkiye to Nakhchivan.
"President Erdoğan Plays a Major Role in the Unification of the Turkic World"
Aliyev noted that the energy projects of Türkiye and Azerbaijan have also paved the way for transportation projects, stating:
"The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, which connects Türkiye and Azerbaijan, provides great advantages not only for our countries but also for a broader region. This transportation link is particularly significant and beneficial for uniting the Turkic world. Naturally, the unity and brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan make significant contributions to the Turkic world. President Erdoğan plays a major role in the unification of the Turkic world. Under his leadership, Türkiye has achieved great success, and new opportunities have emerged for the further strengthening of the Turkic world's unity. Azerbaijan has always placed great importance on the unification of the Turkic world and has spared no effort to establish and sustain this unity based on common history and shared interests."
Emphasizing that the 500,000 compatriots in Nakhchivan consider today’s ceremony a celebration, Aliyev expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to the construction of the Iğdır-Nakhchivan Natural Gas Pipeline.