Baku hosts official reception for Türkiye’s Victory Day

Baku marked Victory Day and Turkish Armed Forces Day with an official reception hosted at the Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan. 

The event started with the playing of the national anthems of both Azerbaijan and Türkiye, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The reception was attended by high-ranking officials, including state and government representatives, members of the Milli Majlis, foreign ambassadors, military attachés, international organization members, and public figures. 

Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Cahit Bagci, delivered a congratulatory message from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, commemorating the historic victory achieved by the Turkish people and Armed Forces under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on August 30, 1922.

Ambassador Bagci highlighted Türkiye's significant development over recent years, noting its emergence as a global power with considerable prestige. He emphasized T ürkiye's robust defence industry and its role as NATO's second-largest military force. 

The Ambassador expressed confidence in the "Turkish Century" evolving into the "Century of the Turkic World," and underscored the strengthened alliance with Azerbaijan, especially amid global conflicts.

Azerbaijan's Defence Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, extended congratulations on behalf of President Ilham Aliyev to the Turkish people and Armed Forces. He praised the pivotal role of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's victory in shaping Türkiye's modern history and highlighted the deep-rooted, high-level relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. 

Hasanov noted the supportive role Türkiye played during Azerbaijan's recent conflicts and emphasized ongoing efforts to align the Azerbaijani military with Turkish standards.

The Defence Minister also acknowledged the successful joint military exercises and planned expansions in future drills, reflecting the close military cooperation between the two nations. He concluded by honoring the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for freedom and statehood and wishing for continued success for both countries.

The reception then featured the screening of a film on the Victory Day.

Meanwhile, in a related event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with the families of Azerbaijani servicemen who lost their lives in the Karabakh conflict. 

During the meeting, which followed the diploma and banner awards ceremony at the War College of National Defence University, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended an invitation to the families of Azerbaijani fallen soldiers. He invited them to a special concert at the Presidential Complex, scheduled for August 30, in honor of Victory Day.

While greeting the parents of the fallen soldiers, Erdogan expressed his condolences, stating, "May the souls of all our martyrs rest in peace."

Following the meeting, Erdogan posed for photographs with the families of the martyrs.