President Aliyev honours Türkiye’s July 15 heroes, reaffirms historic brotherhood

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has honoured the memory of those who lost their lives while defending Türkiye’s constitutional order and national will during the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, reaffirming the strength of Azerbaijan-Türkiye unity.

In a message addressed to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the 10th anniversary of the attempted coup, Aliyev expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs and to the people of Türkiye, paying tribute to their courage and sacrifice, Caliber.Az reports.

“Ten years ago, brotherly Türkiye wrote one of the most tragic, yet most honorable chapters of its modern history,” Aliyev said, describing the coup attempt as an attack against statehood, democratic foundations, and the national will.

The Azerbaijani president praised the determination of the Turkish people, who took to the streets despite the risks, saying their actions had become “a true epic of heroism” and were permanently engraved in the country’s national memory.

Aliyev also highlighted Erdoğan’s leadership during the crisis, noting that the Turkish president’s “decisive and visionary leadership,” along with the unity of the Turkish people, played a crucial role in preventing greater tragedies on that night.

“Under your leadership, Türkiye emerged from this trial even stronger, once again demonstrating its national will and traditions of statehood to the entire world,” the Azerbaijani leader emphasised.

According to Aliyev, the events of July 15 demonstrated that “no insidious intention or destructive force can withstand the unity of the people and the state.” He added that Türkiye’s annual commemoration of July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day represents a symbol of national solidarity, statehood traditions, and the people’s determination to protect their freedom.

Emphasising the principle of “One nation, two states,” Aliyev recalled Azerbaijan’s solidarity with Türkiye during the attempted coup, saying that the support shown by the Azerbaijani people and state once again proved the unbreakable bonds between the two nations.

“I am confident that the strong Azerbaijani-Turkish friendship and brotherhood, handed down from generation to generation, will be further strengthened, and our strategic alliance will continue to develop along an upward trajectory and be enriched with new content through our joint efforts,” Aliyev stated.

The Azerbaijani leader concluded his message by wishing Erdoğan good health and success in his state duties, while expressing hopes for continued peace, prosperity, and welfare for the people of Türkiye.

By Jeyhun Aghazada