KAHRAMANMARAŞ, Türkiye, June 19. We stand by each other in both good times and difficult times, strengthening one another. Today, the Türkiye–Azerbaijan brotherhood and unity is a key factor not only in our region but also on a global scale, President Ilham Aliyev said during his speech at the opening ceremony of the “Azerbaijan” neighborhood in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, Trend reports.
Speech by President Ilham Aliyev
- My dear brother, esteemed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,
Distinguished participants of the event, dear people of Kahramanmaraş,
First of all, I convey to you the most sincere greetings of the Azerbaijani people. I once again ask Allah to rest the souls of all our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the aftermath of the terrible earthquake on February 6, 2023, in peace.
The Azerbaijani people treated this tragedy as their own. From the very first day, tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis began to fulfill their fraternal duty by coming to the stations in Baku and various cities across Azerbaijan to provide humanitarian aid. Immediately after the earthquake, search and rescue operations began under the leadership of my dear brother, the esteemed President, followed by reconstruction and construction work. Tens of thousands of people were provided with new apartments in a short period of time. This factor once again demonstrates Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's commitment, love and strong determination toward his people. At the same time, this is also evidence of a strong Türkiye, because only a strong state can carry out such a large-scale reconstruction and construction work in a short time.
Azerbaijan immediately sent more than a thousand personnel, including search and rescue people, volunteers and doctors to the earthquake-affected regions of Türkiye, and they started working immediately. Fifty-three people were rescued from the rubble by Azerbaijani personnel, 3,200 people were provided with medical assistance by Azerbaijani doctors in two field hospitals we had established.
Azerbaijan has always been by Türkiye’s side and Türkiye has always been by Azerbaijan's side. Today, my participation along with my dear brother in the opening of the “Azerbaijan” quarter is further evidence of our unity and friendship.
As you have just mentioned, we stood shoulder to shoulder with my dear brother, esteemed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on the Karabakh issue from the first day of the war. The support, solidarity, political and moral backing shown to us by the President of Türkiye from the first hours of the war and the fact that the Turkish people were together with us gave us additional strength. We have restored historical justice, and today the Azerbaijani people live in comfort and security on their ancestral land.
The establishment of the “Azerbaijan” quarter is also a remarkable event. More than 90 buildings have been constructed here. Our Turkish brothers and sisters will live in 1,200 apartments. There is a school and a kindergarten, and the construction of a culture center is also on the agenda. We are always by each other’s side in good times and difficult times. We multiply each other’s strength. Today, the Türkiye-Azerbaijan brotherhood and unity are an important factor not only for our region, but also on a global scale, they are a symbol of security, cooperation, development and brotherhood.
The Shusha Declaration, which we signed together with the esteemed President in Shusha four years ago has raised our relations to the highest level. The Shusha Declaration has officially elevated our relations to the level of an alliance. We are friends, brothers and allies. Türkiye and Azerbaijan, two brotherly countries, are confidently and successfully moving forward hand in hand in political, economic, energy, transport, military and all other fields.
Today, I am visiting this beautiful land for the first time. I have been to many other places in Türkiye and have seen the beautiful nature of this wonderful country. I am very pleased to be here, in the ancient Turkish land of Kahramanmaraş. The people of Kahramanmaraş showed great resolve in the face of a terrible earthquake. They did not break or bend. They knew and believed that behind them stood a strong leader – Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Behind them stands a strong Türkiye. This, of course, once again shows how attached the people of Kahramanmaraş are to their native land, leader and state.
I express the respect and love of the Azerbaijani people to all the people living in the earthquake-affected areas. You know and should know that you have 10 million brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis also know that we have more than 80 million brothers and sisters in Türkiye.
Long live Türkiye! Long live Türkiye-Azerbaijan unity and brotherhood!