Baku analysts assess Erdogan's visit to Fizuli

The Turkish President's visit to Fuzuli and other territories over which Azerbaijan gained control after the autumn war of 2020 became a demonstration of Ankara's growing influence in the region, the analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 26, the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived in Azerbaijan on a one-day visit, where he, together with Ilham Aliev, took part in the opening ceremony of the Fizuli International Airport.

Erdogan's visit to Azerbaijan and his participation in the opening of Fizuli International Airport, as well as his visits to other territories over which Azerbaijan gained control after the 2020 autumn war became a demonstration of Ankara's growing role in the region, Mekhman Aliev, Director of the "Turan" News Agency, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

On October 26, President Erdogan visited the territories located near the Iranian border, Mekhman Aliev has noted. "Iran is jealous of the Azerbaijani-Turkish rapprochement, regarding the strengthening of Ankara in the region as an attempt to revive the Ottomanism, which for centuries had rivalled the Persian Empire. Erdogan, having visited these territories, made it clear that Ankara would not allow any hostile actions against Azerbaijan by its neighbours," Mekhman Aliev has concluded.

Togrul Djuvarly, a member of the Azerbaijani National Public Committee for European Integration, believes that Erdogan's participation in the opening of Fizuli Airport was important for both countries. "The Erdogan's participation has increased the significance of this event and attracted more international attention thereto. However, the opening of the airport, as well as the launch of the construction of a new Horadiz-Zangilan-Agbend highway has shown that Azerbaijan is determined to implement the Zangezur Corridor project, which will become part of the international Europe-Asia communication. And Turkey fully supports Azerbaijan," Mr Djuvarly told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 29, 2021 at 02:36 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.