Phone call from Ankara and political signals amid tensions

Sometimes a phone conversation is not just a diplomatic contact, but a message that provides insight into the direction in which political relations will develop. This is precisely the significance of the conversation that took place on October 21 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

During the phone conversation, the heads of state discussed Azerbaijani-Turkish bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues. Erdoğan once again congratulated his counterpart on the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Azerbaijan's state independence and invited him to the upcoming 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Ankara.

Although the positive tone of the conversation once again confirmed the strategic nature of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, the political context in which this contact took place also deserves attention. Since the end of September, accusations and harsh statements directed at our country had been voiced in Turkey's political and public circles, and protests held in front of Azerbaijani diplomatic missions caused serious concern.

Statements by a number of politicians, including certain representatives of the ruling Justice and Development Party, further escalated the discussion. Particular attention was drawn to debates that unfolded following statements by Oktay Saral, as well as the positions of political figures such as Leyla Şahin Usta and Muhammet Müfit Aydın, in the context of the sensitivity of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations.

However, the essence of the issue goes far beyond the discussion of domestic decisions concerning school uniforms. It is about respect for Azerbaijan's sovereign rights, political responsibility in interstate relations, and the inadmissibility of using domestic political struggles as a tool of pressure on another country.

More details in the Baku TV video: