Speaking at the meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used the following statements in his speech:
My dear brother, esteemed members of the delegation, esteemed members of the press, I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings on behalf of myself, my country and my nation. I am happy to be with you in the annual patrol of Karabakh.
At the very beginning of my words, I remember with gratitude and respect all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Karabakh.
I express my gratitude to our veterans and pray to God Almighty for their health, well-being and long lives.
OUR BROTHERHOOD IS MUCH BEYOND A COMMON LANGUAGE, HISTORY AND CULTURE
6 years ago, the Azerbaijani people, united under the astute leadership of my brother Ilham, liberated Karabakh again with great heroism. This glorious victory continues to be the most beautiful manifestation of Azerbaijan's just cause and a source of pride for the entire Turkish geography. As you all know, the relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan have passed through various tests of history and reached their current advanced level. This union of hearts, which we describe with the motto 'One nation, two states', is an inextinguishable torch that sheds light on our future with the strength it draws from our common past. Our brotherhood goes beyond a common language, history and culture.
OUR TOGETHER WILL ALWAYS STAY
Those who want to weaken this brotherhood that we have strengthened with the bond of alliance with the declaration we signed in Shusha on June 15, 2021, will never achieve their goals today and tomorrow, as they did yesterday. With the permission of God Almighty, our togetherness will always last.
We are also working with all our strength to make this vision dominant in the Turkish world. The advanced level that our Organization of Turkish States has reached today is the most concrete result of our common will and efforts. On this occasion, I would like to thank Azerbaijan for its efforts for the unity and solidarity of the Turkish world during the term presidency. Hopefully, we will strive to ensure that the organization has a more effective and institutional structure during our term presidency.
THE DUTY BEFORE US IS TO CROWN VICTORY WITH PERMANENT PEACE AND STABILITY
Azerbaijan's liberation of its own lands from occupation with the 44-day Homeland War opened the door to a new era in the South Caucasus. The task before us today is to crown the victory won in the squares with permanent peace and stability. As we embrace Azerbaijan's rightful struggle, we also support its sincere efforts to establish permanent peace in our region. We follow with great appreciation the efforts made by Azerbaijan for the reconstruction of Karabakh and the restoration of the region's former vitality. Every furnace that smokes again, every work that rises and the historical heritage that is restored in Karabakh shows the faith of the Azerbaijani people in the future.
Hopefully, we will continue to share our experience and contribute to reconstruction and development efforts on this path. Most recently, we were proud to open the Türkiye-Azerbaijan International Forestry Training Center and Nursery facility in Cebrail.
This facility, established with the contributions of our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has become a new sign of Türkiye-Azerbaijan cooperation. In addition, the construction of our 14,500 square meter school with 40 classrooms has started in Aghdam. Hopefully, we will open it with my brother Ilam next year.
WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHERE WE CAME TO SHUSHA
Especially today, we passed through seven different tunnels while coming here. These seven tunnels reveal how successful the construction of infrastructure in the region has been. And as we come to Shusha, we are fortunate to see where we have come from. I believe that the next time we come to Shusha, it will be much different. Fuzuli will be different. Because there is a leader and a staff who believe in this work and are committed to this work, and this leader and this staff continue on their way with the same belief and determination. I believe that once again, I commemorate with mercy our beloved martyrs who recorded the Karabakh victory in our history with their lives and blood.
I express my gratitude to our heroic veterans. Once again, I wholeheartedly congratulate this glorious victory of my Azerbaijani brothers.
As Türkiye and the Turkish nation, we will continue to be with you always, to know your sorrow as our grief and your joy as our joy.
ALİYEV: OUR UNITY IS ETERNAL AND UNSHAKEABLE
Speaking at the meeting, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said:
