President Erdoğan evaluated relations with Azerbaijan | 'We will walk shoulder to shoulder'

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan answered journalists' questions about the agenda on the plane upon his return from his visit to Azerbaijan. Erdoğan briefly said:

WE GIVEN OUR MESSAGE OF TOGETHER IN THE STRONGEST WAY: We once again demonstrated our solidarity with Azerbaijan in Shusha. We gave our messages of unity and solidarity in the strongest way. Türkiye and Azerbaijan are two brother countries connected to each other with unbreakable ties. Despite the focus of discord, we have crowned our cooperation with mega projects in many strategic areas, especially energy, transportation and infrastructure. We will further strengthen our solidarity with the new steps we will take.

NO ONE CAN CAST A SHADOW: As Türkiye, we provide all the support we can for the development of Karabakh, as it was for its liberation. Hopefully, next year, we plan to open our school, which will be an exemplary work with 40 classrooms, two laboratories and a library. As Türkiye and Azerbaijan, we are two brother states that have one heart and one wrist in joy and sorrow, and face all kinds of difficulties together. With God's permission, no one can cast a shadow on the love, solidarity and brotherhood between us.

FUNDAMENTAL EFFORT: At the commemoration in Karabakh, there was the solidarity of two powerful states that guided their relations with the understanding of "one nation, two states". My brother Ilham Aliyev and I hugged sincerely and reconciled our longing. Those who seek separation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan are engaged in a futile effort. There is complete solidarity, common destiny and the law of brotherhood between us. We will raise the strong voice of Turks in our region and in the world together with our other brothers and build a prosperous future together. Those who try to put distance between us do not take into account our nations' love for each other, their historical ties and their unshakable will. Hopefully, Türkiye and Azerbaijan will continue to walk shoulder to shoulder for the peace, stability and prosperity of their region.

SOMEONE IS DISTURBED: It is known that this union disturbs some people above all else. It is enough to look at history to see what steps Türkiye, Azerbaijan and other Turkish states can take when they act together. We are different states, we have different institutional structures. But at the same time, we are tightly bonded by the bond of brotherhood.

'There is no return from a terror-free Turkey'

THE FIELD IS NOT EMPTY: (Terror-free Türkiye) As both the People's Alliance and the state, we have put not only our hands but also our bodies into the Terror-Free Türkiye process. Our nation and state have made their decision, determined the road map and taken action to solve the issue of terrorism. There will be no turning back from this. Our priority is for the organization to complete the dissolution process with all its elements, to surrender its weapons in full, and for this situation to be concretely identified and confirmed by the relevant institutions of our state. The field is not empty. Every step, every move is closely followed by the relevant institutions of our state and our government. The caves are evacuated according to a certain plan. This will continue as is. I believe that the Monitoring Commission will be established in a short time. The commission chaired by our Vice President continues its work. The subcommittee will also start working soon. There is a saying in Latin called “Festina lente” which means “make haste slowly”. We act carefully but quickly, God forbid, we do not want to cause a road accident.

'Cyprus is a national cause'

COMMITMENTS SHOULD TRANSFORM INTO IMPLEMENTATION: (COP31 Summit) We do not approach any issue "as if". In Antalya, we will talk about the most concrete steps that will secure the common future of humanity. At COP31, we do not just bring leaders together, make speeches and publish declarations. Our goal is to make this summit a platform where concrete results are produced and countries turn their commitments into practice. Because now is the time to take action.

NATIONAL CASE: (TRNC issue) We do not see the deadlock in Cyprus as a solution. The fact that there are two separate peoples and two separate states on the island must now be accepted. The Cyprus issue is a national cause that we will follow until justice is served.

'Our region should not be dragged into instability'

I EXPLAINED OUR RESERVATIONS TO TRUMP: (USA-Iran war) We do not want a new wave of attacks against Iran to be launched and our region to be dragged into further instability. We express at every opportunity that it is possible to solve problems through dialogue and diplomacy. Unfortunately, we can talk about a negative movement again. We are doing our best to prevent this. I discussed these issues with US President Mr. Trump and explained our reservations. We conveyed to the parties that we are ready to step in to open the door to peace and diplomacy. We hope common sense will prevail and we, as a region, will return from the edge of the cliff.

'We are for peace'