Türkiye supports Azerbaijan's efforts for lasting peace in South Caucasus: Erdogan

Erdogan honours Karabakh's fallen fighters, thanks veterans for their sacrifices at talks with Azerbaijan's President

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday reaffirmed Türkiye's support for Azerbaijan's efforts to establish lasting peace in the South Caucasus, saying the liberation of Karabakh had opened the door to a new era in the region.

"Just as we have supported Azerbaijan's just struggle, we also support its sincere efforts to establish lasting peace in our region," Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Shusha, celebrating the sixth anniversary of the liberation of Karabakh.

Speaking after a bilateral meeting with Aliyev at the Shusha Governor's Office, Erdogan said he was pleased to be in Azerbaijan for the sixth anniversary of the Karabakh victory.

🇹🇷 Turkish President Erdogan reaffirms Türkiye’s support for Azerbaijan’s efforts to establish lasting peace in South Caucasus during joint news conference with Azerbaijani counterpart Aliyev in Shusha

🤝 Erdogan says Karabakh’s liberation opened new era in region, praises… pic.twitter.com/z2iesCAYEb

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 8, 2026

He also recited verses praising Shusha, describing it as a city that warms the heart like a cherished saying and a glowing ember, adorned with fragrant roses.

Erdogan expressed his respect and gratitude to those who lost their lives in the struggle for Karabakh's liberation and thanked veterans for their sacrifices, wishing them health and long lives.

He said the Azerbaijani people, united under Aliyev's leadership, had restored Karabakh's freedom through great heroism, describing the victory as a reflection of Azerbaijan's just cause and a source of pride for the entire Turkic world.

Erdogan said Azerbaijan's liberation of its territories from occupation during the 44-day Second Karabakh War in 2020 had ushered in a new era in the South Caucasus.

"The task before us today is to crown the victory achieved on the battlefield with lasting peace and stability," he said.

Türkiye appreciates Azerbaijan's efforts

He also praised Azerbaijan's ongoing reconstruction efforts in the territories.

"We greatly appreciate Azerbaijan's efforts to rebuild Karabakh and restore the region to its former vitality," he said.

"Every home with a renewed hearth, every structure rising and every piece of historical heritage being restored in Karabakh demonstrate the Azerbaijani people's confidence in the future," Erdogan said, adding that Türkiye would continue sharing its experience and contributing to reconstruction and development efforts.

He highlighted several joint projects as examples of bilateral cooperation, including the Türkiye-Azerbaijan International Forestry Training Center and Nursery Facilities established in Cebrayil with contributions from Türkiye's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Erdogan said construction had also begun on a 40-classroom school covering 14,500 square meters in Aghdam, adding that he hoped to inaugurate the facility with Aliyev next year.

Referring to infrastructure developments during his journey from Fuzuli International Airport to Shusha, Erdogan noted that the delegation had passed through seven tunnels.

"These seven tunnels demonstrate how successful infrastructure construction in the region has been," he said, expressing his belief that Shusha and Fuzuli would look very different during his next visit. He attributed the progress to the determination and commitment of Azerbaijan's leadership and team.

Türkiye-Azerbaijan ties

Highlighting the deep-rooted ties between the two countries, Erdogan said relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan had reached their current advanced level after passing through various tests of history.

"Relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan have reached their current advanced level after passing through various tests of history. This unity of hearts, which we describe with the motto 'one nation, two states,' is an everlasting torch that draws strength from our shared past and illuminates our future," he said.

He emphasized that the bond between the two nations went far beyond their shared language, history and culture.

"This is why we regard Baku's joy as Ankara's joy and Shusha's pride as the pride of our entire nation," Erdogan said.

Erdogan also stressed the significance of the Shusha Declaration, signed on June 15, 2021, which elevated bilateral relations to the level of an alliance.

"Those seeking to weaken our brotherhood, reinforced by the alliance we forged with the declaration signed in Shusha on June 15, 2021, will never achieve their goals, now or in the future, just as they failed in the past," he said.

"With God's permission, our unity will endure forever," he added.

Erdogan said Türkiye and Azerbaijan were also working to promote this vision across the Turkic world, describing the Organization of Turkic States' progress as the most tangible result of their shared determination and efforts.

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He thanked Azerbaijan for its efforts to strengthen unity and solidarity across the Turkic world during its chairmanship of the organization and said Türkiye would work to make the organization more effective and institutionalized during its own chairmanship.

Azerbaijan-Türkiye unity 'eternal and unshakable'

For his part, Aliyev expressed gratitude for Türkiye's support during the 44-day Second Karabakh War, emphasizing that Azerbaijan would never forget the solidarity demonstrated by Erdogan and the Turkish people.

"Throughout the 44 days of the Second Karabakh War, you (President Erdogan) and the brotherly Turkish people stood by our side. This will never be forgotten," Aliyev said.

He described the unity between Azerbaijan and Türkiye as "eternal and unshakable," stressing that attempts to undermine their close relations would fail.

"Our unity and brotherhood with Türkiye are unshakable. Those who seek to drive a wedge between us will never succeed," he said.

Aliyev noted that the Second Karabakh War had once again demonstrated the unity between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, recalling that the Shusha Declaration formally elevated bilateral relations to the level of an alliance.

He stressed, however, that the two countries had always been allies, even before the declaration was signed.

"The peoples of Türkiye and Azerbaijan are brotherly peoples. There are no other peoples and states in the world as closely connected as we are. This is our great wealth," he said.

"The Shusha Declaration merely placed these historical and cultural relations within an official framework. What unites us is our shared history, ethnic roots, language, literature and spiritual values. This is a great wealth. Today, interstate relations are also developing on the basis of this wealth and strong foundation," he added.

'We will not allow anyone to come between us': Aliyev

Aliyev reiterated that neither country would allow outside forces to undermine their solidarity.

"We, as two peoples and, above all, as two leaders, protect this wealth. We will not allow anyone to come between us or cast a shadow over our unity, brotherhood and solidarity for their own personal interests," he said.

Aliyev also praised Türkiye's growing international influence under Erdogan's leadership, saying the country had become a major power with a voice in global affairs.

"Türkiye's strong economy, powerful industrial potential and political weight are realities today. This makes us very happy and also strengthens us," he said.

He noted that Azerbaijan had also undergone significant development in recent years and continued to make steady progress.

"We are much stronger together. Türkiye-Azerbaijan unity is an important factor in a region covering a vast geography. It is a factor of stability, cooperation and security," Aliyev said.

Concluding his remarks, Aliyev said Erdogan's presence in Karabakh on Victory Day, despite his busy schedule, once again demonstrated the strength of bilateral ties to the world.

"I am certain that this unity will be eternal. No one in Türkiye or Azerbaijan has any doubt about this," he said.

"We were together in the past, we were together during the war, we are together today, and we will be together in the future," he added.

Flags waving side by side

At the conclusion of his remarks, Erdogan recited verses by Azerbaijani poet Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh celebrating the shared identity and solidarity of the two countries.

"May God grant that our red flag with the crescent and star and the glorious flag of Azerbaijan continue to wave side by side in the skies forever," he said.

Erdogan also congratulated the Azerbaijani people on Nov. 9 State Flag Day, sending his greetings and affection to the people of Azerbaijan and thanking Aliyev for his warm hospitality.

Following their speeches, Erdogan and Aliyev shook hands and raised each other's hands together for a photograph.