Baku, October 13, AZERTAC
The press service of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) has commented on statements made regarding Azerbaijan by Oktay Saral, Chief Advisor to the President of the Republic of Türkiye, and members of parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
AZERTAC presents YAP's statement:
"For a long time, biased, false, slanderous, and defamatory information about Azerbaijan has been disseminated in a number of Turkish media outlets and on social media platforms, including information resources known for their proximity to the AKP government.
Considering the existing partnership between the New Azerbaijan Party and the Justice and Development Party, as well as the historical bonds of brotherhood and friendship between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, we have so far demonstrated restraint in response to such cases. Our goal has been to prevent the irresponsible behavior of individual circles from negatively affecting relations between our states and peoples.
However, the recent aggressive, systematic, and openly slanderous campaign directed against Azerbaijan, particularly the participation in it of a person holding the position of Chief Advisor to the President of Türkiye and members of parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party, makes it necessary for us to state our position openly.
First of all, we decisively reject attempts to purposefully distort Azerbaijan–Israel relations, portray these ties as exceptional, and level political accusations against Azerbaijan on this basis. The Republic of Azerbaijan maintains normal inter-state relations with Israel based on international legal norms 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 provided financial and humanitarian assistance to Palestine. President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa have visited Azerbaijan on various occasions. The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Azerbaijan also receives financial support from the Azerbaijani state.
President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated at the highest-level international forums that Azerbaijan supports the settlement of the Palestinian issue in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, on the basis of the two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. Azerbaijan's stance on the events taking place in Gaza is also rooted in humanitarian values, the protection of the civilian population, and international law.
Azerbaijan's relations with the Islamic world stem not from political expediency, but from the principles of mutual respect, equality, and solidarity. Our country's contributions to strengthening Islamic solidarity are highly valued by Muslim states. The decision to hold the next Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Azerbaijan in 2027 is also an expression of international trust in our country.
In this regard, we would like to recall that justice, equality, mutual respect, and solidarity are among the fundamental principles of Islam. No state in the Islamic world has the right to dictate its will to other Muslim peoples, interfere in their internal affairs, or regard itself as superior to others. The claim to serve the unity of the Muslim world must be demonstrated through equal cooperation and mutual respect, not a drive for hegemony.
The Azerbaijani people have historically opposed imperialism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism. This principled position remains unchanged today.
It is a matter of deep regret that Oktay Saral, Chief Advisor 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 matter, Azerbaijan's constitutional structure, and the legal foundations of freedom of religious belief in our country. Such statements contradict the spirit of brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye and can create artificial tensions in the public sphere.
The Azerbaijani people have throughout history treated their national, moral, and religious values with great respect. Freedom of religious belief in our country is guaranteed by the Constitution. The Azerbaijani state treats representatives of all religions equally and considers religious diversity an asset to our society.
The rules applied in the field of education are based on the principles of equality, secularism, the rule of law, and 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, using Azerbaijan's secular state structure and education policy for political manipulation is unacceptable.
Political discussions in Türkiye surrounding religious and secular values deepen social polarization. We believe that using sensitive issues such as headscarves 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. Using such issues to exert political pressure on Azerbaijan is particularly inadmissible. We call on the AKP government to refrain from this harmful policy.
Insulting, slanderous, and defamatory remarks made by certain media outlets about the personality of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Victorious Commander-in-Chief, also evoke rightful indignation among the Azerbaijani public.
The principle of 'One nation, two states,' established by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, constitutes the moral and political foundation of Azerbaijan–Türkiye relations. However, the essence of this historical expression must not be distorted. It refers specifically to one nation and two independent states. This principle in no way provides a basis for one state to interfere in the internal affairs of the other or to impose its own political and ideological approaches on the other.
The Azerbaijani people have aspired to independence for centuries, restored their statehood, and today live in a sovereign state that pursues 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 individuals holding high state positions, must demonstrate political responsibility in their statements and respect the sovereignty, constitutional structure, and internal affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
We hope that the relevant political circles of Türkiye will draw the appropriate conclusions from such irresponsible statements and refrain from steps that could damage Azerbaijan–Türkiye relations."