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Strengthening Azerbaijan–Türkiye unity requires mutual respect for each other's decisions - Opinion

14 October 2026 14:34 (UTC +04:00)

Preserving and further strengthening Azerbaijan–Türkiye unity requires mutual respect for each other's decisions, Tahir Mirkishili, a member of the Board of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) and Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) Member, told APA.

Tahir Mirkishili said that the statement issued by the New Azerbaijan Party was a timely, principled, and well-founded political position: "I strongly condemn the campaign being conducted against Azerbaijan by certain political figures and media platforms in Türkiye. Making unfounded accusations against a brotherly country and turning its domestic policy into a subject of pressure is not in line with the spirit and closeness of our relations. Azerbaijan–Türkiye brotherhood is based on the shared history of our peoples, mutual trust, and standing by each other during difficult times. These relations are a great moral and political asset for us. No politician's personal ambitions or media organization's agenda can justify damaging this asset. In particular, those holding public office must understand the responsibility of their words and take into account the consequences their statements may have in both societies."

The MP noted that National Leader Heydar Aliyev's principle of "One nation, two states" expresses both national unity and the fact that the two countries are independent states:

"Brotherhood is founded on equality and mutual respect. Decisions concerning Azerbaijan's domestic and foreign policy are based on the will of our people and the national interests of our state. Respect for this choice is an indispensable condition of our relations.

Attempts to create a negative perception of Azerbaijan by exploiting religious sensitivities are particularly unacceptable. Faith is part of people's spiritual world and should not be turned into an instrument of political pressure. When approaching issues related to schools and education, the main criteria should be the interests of children, their acquisition of knowledge, and their development with equal opportunities. Creating emotional confrontation around these issues cannot be considered responsible behavior."

Tahir Mirkishili stated that accusing Azerbaijan by presenting its international partnerships through selectively chosen facts is also far from objective:

"If there are any disagreements, political and diplomatic channels exist to discuss them. The language of insults, accusations, and public pressure does not contribute to mutual understanding. I am confident that it would be wrong to regard the behavior of certain individuals as the position of the entire brotherly Turkish people. It is precisely because we value the ties between our peoples that we object to such campaigns. We expect the same sensitivity from political representatives and media organizations in Türkiye that value this brotherhood.

Preserving and further strengthening Azerbaijan–Türkiye unity requires respect for each other's statehood, way of life, and independent decisions. If everyone determines their words and actions in accordance with this responsibility, it will thwart the plans of those seeking to damage this brotherhood."