Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of Türkiye’s ruling party, issued a written statement on relations with Azerbaijan. "From the Aegean to the Caspian, from the past to the future, Türkiye and Azerbaijan are two strong states of the same heartland," he said.
"It is of great importance to act on the basis of common sense, mutual understanding and shared reason in the face of any approach aimed at damaging the bond of brotherhood between the two countries," Bahçeli said. He stressed that positions that could cause division in the Turkic world should be avoided and that each Turkic republic is an independent and sovereign state, so cooperation must proceed on that basis.
"The summit will show an unshakable will"
Bahçeli also referred to the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit to be held in Ankara in the last week of October. "We believe the meeting at the summit between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the commander-in-chief of the Karabakh victory, and our President Erdoğan will once again demonstrate the unshakable will of Turkish-Azerbaijani brotherhood," he said.
The OTS chairmanship will pass from Azerbaijan to Türkiye at the summit. Citing İsmail Gaspıralı’s motto "Unity in language, thought and action," Bahçeli called on ministries, public institutions, universities and civil society to produce concrete projects in line with the OTS 2040 Vision.
In the shadow of the headscarf row
The statement came as reports that headscarf-wearing students were kept out of classes in Azerbaijani schools turned into a dispute between Ankara and Baku. Bahçeli did not refer directly to the headscarf issue. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is due to represent President Erdoğan at the CICA summit in Baku on Thursday.
