For a long time, a number of media outlets and social media platforms in Türkiye, including information resources known to be close to the AKP government, have been spreading false, biased, defamatory, and slanderous information about Azerbaijan, the Press Service of the New Azerbaijan Party told APA.
“Taking into account the existing partnership relations between the New Azerbaijan Party and the Justice and Development Party, as well as the historical bonds of brotherhood and friendship uniting the peoples of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, we have so far exercised restraint regarding such cases. Our goal has been to prevent the irresponsible behavior of certain circles from negatively affecting relations between our states and peoples.
However, the fact that this information campaign directed against Azerbaijan has recently become more aggressive, systematic, and openly defamatory, and especially that a person holding the status of chief adviser to the President of Türkiye, as well as members of parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party, have joined such a campaign, makes it necessary for us to openly express our position on the matter.
First of all, we categorically reject attempts to deliberately distort Azerbaijan-Israel relations, portray these ties as allegedly exceptional, and use this to put forward political accusations against Azerbaijan. The Republic of Azerbaijan has normal interstate relations with Israel based on international law and mutual interests.
Azerbaijan’s position on the Palestinian issue is consistent, clear, and principled. Our country has always supported the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and has provided financial and humanitarian assistance to Palestine. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa have visited Azerbaijan at various times. The activities of the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Azerbaijan are also supported financially by the Azerbaijani state.
President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated from the highest international platforms that Azerbaijan supports resolving the Palestinian issue on the basis of international law and relevant UN resolutions, based on the ‘two-state’ principle, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. Azerbaijan’s position on the events in Gaza is also based on humanitarian values, protection of civilians, and international law.
Azerbaijan’s relations with the Islamic world are also based not on any political conjuncture, but on the principles of mutual respect, equality, and solidarity. Our country’s contributions to strengthening Islamic solidarity are highly appreciated by Muslim states. The planned holding of the next Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Azerbaijan in 2027 is also an expression of international confidence in our country.
In this regard, we would like to recall that justice, equality, mutual respect, and solidarity occupy an important place among the fundamental principles of Islam. In the Islamic world, no state has the right to dictate its will to other Muslim peoples, interfere in their internal affairs, or consider itself superior to others. Claims of serving the unity of the Muslim world should be demonstrated not through hegemonic tendencies, but through equal cooperation and mutual respect.
The Azerbaijani people have historically opposed imperialism, colonialism, and neocolonial approaches. This principled position remains unchanged today.
It is a matter of serious regret that Oktay Saral, chief adviser to the President of Türkiye, and members of parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party have made populist and irresponsible statements without taking into account the essence of the issue, Azerbaijan’s constitutional order, and the legal foundations of freedom of religion in our country. Such statements contradict the spirit of Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherly relations and may serve to create artificial tension in the public sphere.
The Azerbaijani people have throughout history shown great respect for their national, moral, and religious values. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitution in our country. The Azerbaijani state treats representatives of all religions equally and considers religious diversity a richness of our society.
The rules applied in the field of education are based on the principles of equality, secularism, the rule of law, and ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan is a secular state. This principle is also enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye. Therefore, turning Azerbaijan’s secular state structure and education policy into an object of political manipulation is unacceptable.
Political discussions around religious and secular values in Türkiye itself deepen polarization in society. We believe that using sensitive issues such as the headscarf as a tool of political manipulation and division serves neither the unity of the Turkish people nor the solidarity of the Muslim world as a whole. The use of such issues as a means of political pressure against Azerbaijan is particularly unacceptable. We call on the AKP government to refrain from this harmful policy.
Insulting, defamatory, and slanderous remarks made against the personality of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, in certain information resources also cause justified indignation in Azerbaijani society.
The principle of ‘One nation, two states,’ defined by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, constitutes the moral and political foundation of Azerbaijan-Türkiye relations. However, the essence of this historic expression must not be distorted. It refers precisely to one nation and two independent states. This principle can under no circumstances serve as a basis for one state to interfere in the internal affairs of the other or impose its political and ideological approaches on it.
The Azerbaijani people lived for centuries with the aspiration for independence, restored their statehood, and today live in a sovereign state pursuing an independent domestic and foreign policy under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.
The New Azerbaijan Party believes that representatives of the Justice and Development Party, especially persons holding senior state positions, should demonstrate political responsibility in their statements and respect the sovereignty, constitutional order, and internal affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
We hope that the relevant political circles in Türkiye will draw the correct conclusions from such irresponsible statements and refrain from steps that could harm Azerbaijan-Türkiye relations,” the statement said.
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