Mustafa Kemal Pasha and Abilov

While Azerbaijan-Turkey relations have been going through a tense process lately, President Erdogan's visit to Shusha on November 8 to celebrate Azerbaijan's Victory Day, and then President Aliyev's coming to Antalya for the UN Climate Change Conference show that the ice is melting.

As it is known, November 10, when the ceasefire was signed with Armenia in 2020, was declared "Victory Day", but since it was the anniversary of Ataturk's death, "Victory Day" was moved to November 8 at the request of Aliyev. It was said, "Azerbaijan cannot rejoice while its brother country mourns."

On the other hand, three days ago, on November 10, Azerbaijani historian Dilgam Ahmed wrote a nice article on the "teleqraf.az" website, emphasizing the friendship of the two countries. He was talking about the ceremony in Dolmabahçe after Atatürk's death and two Azerbaijanis. The relevant section in his article is as follows:

"...there were two Azerbaijanis among the visitors. After coming to the palace and signing the condolence book, they sent a telegram to the next president, İsmet İnönü. These people were Mustafa Vəkiloğlu, the last deputy of internal affairs of our Republic, and Hüsrov Sultanzade (Xosrov Sultanzadə), the first deputy of war. In the telegram he sent to İsmet Pasha, Mustafa Bey said, 'Our great Turkish son Atatürk' "In these days, which is a day of great mourning for all Turks, the hearts of us unfortunate Azerbaijani Turks are also crying."

Another Azerbaijani who was deeply saddened by Atatürk's death was Mehmed Emin Resulzâde, the founder of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. As it is known, Resulzade is a person who was exiled after the Red Army entered Azerbaijan. In the telegram he sent from Warsaw at the time of Ataturk's death in 1938, he said: "I wholeheartedly join the great mourning of brother Turkey on behalf of national Azerbaijan."

*Resulzade's telegram (teleqraf.az, Dilgam Ahmed)

In his article, Dilgam Ahmed also shared a detail while stating that Azerbaijani Turks loved Ataturk very much. He stated that Atatürk visited Kars with Latife Hanım on October 6, 1924, and that the Azerbaijanis in the region sang the folk song "Salam to the flag of the Turks" to Atatürk and performed parts of the famous play "Arşın Mal Alan". He also stated that Azerbaijanis supported Mustafa Kemal Pasha during the War of Independence and concluded his words as follows: "On the anniversary of Atatürk's death, we commemorate him with respect and salute his spirit soaring in the skies of Ankara."

“A FRIEND IN THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE”

As Dilgam Ahmed said, Azerbaijan did not spare its support during the War of Independence. He also sends an ambassador to Ankara. He was a person who was appointed in October 1921, whom Atatürk addressed as "My Brother", and who made efforts to have his body delivered to Azerbaijan when he died; Ibrahim Abilov…

While Mustafa Kemal Pasha was opening the Azerbaijani embassy in Cebeci on 18 November 1921, he expressed his satisfaction with the following sentence: "The Azerbaijani Government was very successful in the selection of Ambassador Ibrahim Abilov Bey, who was sent to confirm and reinforce these bonds of brotherhood. Because His Excellency Ibrahim Abilov is a person who has felt this bond of friendship in his soul."

*The opening of the Azerbaijani embassy on 18 November 1921

“ABILOV IN SPECIAL MEMORIES”

During his time in Ankara, Abilov also ensured that Azerbaijani aid (gasoline, machine oil, oil, etc.) was delivered to the Turkish army. For this reason, a certificate of appreciation is presented to him.

* Certificate of appreciation given to Abilov for the Himaye-i Etfal Society. (State Archives: DK_C_G0142533_1_761)

*April 3, 1922 Tea. Front visit with Aralov and Abilov.

In addition, Mustafa Kemal Pasha took Abilov to the front along with the Soviet ambassador Aralov and followed the Ilgın Maneuvers on site. He became a name loved by everyone in Ankara with his character Abilov. One of the most special decisions taken by Mustafa Kemal Pasha in his life was explained for the first time in Abilov's embassy building. İsmail Habip (Sevük) Bey, whom he knew at that time, described what happened in the embassy in Cebeci as follows:

"On the 4th Friday night of the Second Law of 1923: The Azerbaijani embassy was in Cebeci, in one of the wooden, large-bodied old Ankara mansions. (...) The lovely Ambassador Ibrahim Abilov, one of the unforgettable figures of the Ankara of the War of Independence, welcomes his guests with his complicated Turkish, which is given a distinct flavor by the Azeri accent. There is a well-decorated table in the middle, plates of black caviar on the table, and on a high sofa at the bottom of the hall, Azerbaijani atmosphere is presented to us." "They said Gazi was coming at that moment. It was around midnight. His eyes were full of light, his face was filled with joy and his heart was full of compliments. (...) The news he gave was a real surprise: I was getting married! (...) He talked about this marriage thing for the first time that night."

However, in the same period, a news article about Abilov appeared in the Yenigün newspaper published by Yunus Nadi in Ankara. In the newspaper dated June 11, 1922, it was announced that Abilov's daughter was born. While the birth took place in the embassy building in Cebeci, Abilov went to the Parliament and gave the good news to Mustafa Kemal Pasha. Then he asks him to be the father of the name. Mustafa Kemal Pasha named the newborn girl "Anatolia".

*Bust of Abilov's daughter Anatolia, made by sculptor Münevver Rzayeva.

“FAREWELL TO BROTHER”

Ahmet Çavuş, who was always with Mustafa Kemal Pasha during the War of Independence, also shares interesting information about Abilov. When he was going to marry Latife Hanım on January 29, 1923, he claimed that one of the wedding witnesses was Abilov.

Abilov, who won Atatürk's love, died suddenly on February 23, 1923, as a result of his appendix bursting during the Izmir Economic Congress. Mustafa Kemal Pasha expressed his sadness in the face of this situation by saying, "A great disaster has occurred. We have lost a great person, a dear man whose heart always beats for us." When Abilov's family wanted him to be buried in his hometown, Mustafa Kemal Pasha arranged for his body to be embalmed and sent to Azerbaijan. In his speech at the funeral ceremony, ambassador Memduh Şevket Esendal said, "Losing his beloved friendship broke Gazi M. Kemal Pasha's back." While the death of Abilov, whom Atatürk addressed as "my brother", saddened everyone, Ahenk newspaper published in Izmir wrote the following: "There is not a single person in Turkey who did not love and respect Abilov as a real brother. He was among us as a real brother during the most intense period of our national liberation struggle."