Today, one of the closest partners to Azerbaijan is the Republic of Turkey, one of 3 major region states playing an important role in the destiny of Caucasus along with Russia and Iran. Though Turkey pursues mostly West oriented policy, coordinated with NATO countries, in Europe, Near and Middle East, other significant regions of the world, in some affairs it acts in the framework of own special interests. Policy of this state particularly concerning Near and Middle East, Islamic world, South Caucasus and other region states is carried out taking the requirements of the West, NATO and norms of international law and at the same religious, ethnic and regional factors into consideration, which sometimes puts it face to face with its Western partners. However, since the mid last century, Turkey assumed the mission to protect in Caucasus not own interests only but the common interests of the whole West, other NATO member states as well.
 
Dating back to deep historical origins, Azerbaijan-Turkey relationship is of special importance to both states. Common religion, language, culture, traditions have always strongly influenced the tangible and intangible culture of both states, development of mutual development. Just for these factors Turkey pays huge attention to relations with Azerbaijan and actively interferes in the stories ongoing in Caucasus relating our republic.

Meetings and talks held and agreements signed during the official visit President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid to Turkey on January 15, 2015 proved it twice.

The 4th session of the Turkish-Azerbaijani High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held January 15 in Ankara with the participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Cooperation between the two states in the economic, energy, transport, defence, humanitarian spheres, the successful course of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, TANAP projects, solution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were discussed in the session, views exchanged on bilateral, international issues and other affairs of mutual interest. President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed “The Joint Declaration on results of the 4th session of the Turkish-Azerbaijani High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council held on January 15, 2015”.

President Ilham Aliyev’s paying the first official visit of 2015 to the Republic of Turkey proved the durability of cooperation between the two countries, guaranteed the continuation of steps towards the development of relationships in the military, political, economic, commercial, cultural and educational spheres. 

Laman Khalilova
Azerbaijan Realities