Erdoğan again thanks Azerbaijan for earthquake relief support

President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has once again expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for its assistance in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck in February 2023.

Speaking at a press briefing following a Cabinet meeting in Ankara on June 30, the Turkish leader highlighted the recent inauguration of the “Azerbaijan” neighbourhood in Kahramanmaraş, one of the regions hardest hit by the disaster, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

"Together with my brother Ilham Aliyev, we inaugurated the 'Azerbaijan' neighbourhood. I would like to once again extend my heartfelt thanks to the people of Azerbaijan, who reached out to support our country from the very first day of the disaster," Erdoğan said.

To recall, at the opening of the “Azerbaijan” neighbourhood in Kahramanmaraş on June 19, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan thanked Azerbaijan for its swift aid after the 2023 earthquakes.

“We will never forget the solidarity and support of the Azerbaijani people,” he said, extending special thanks to President Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva. 

Erdoğan called the project a symbol of “One Nation, Two States” and praised MİDA and TOKİ for their cooperation. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s liberation of Karabakh and joint reconstruction efforts, noting, “Together with my brother Ilham Aliyev, we took part in opening this new air gateway.”

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Kahramanmaraş in February 2023, Azerbaijan responded promptly with humanitarian assistance and has remained actively engaged in reconstruction efforts.

A notable initiative is the “Azerbaijan” neighbourhood in Kahramanmaraş, developed with Azerbaijani support. Spanning 32 hectares, the project comprises more than 1,300 flats, a school, a nursery, and a cultural centre.

The neighbourhood stands as a testament to the close brotherly ties and lasting partnership between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

By Aghakazim Guliyev