Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev today participated in the opening ceremony of the "Azerbaijani Quarter" in the city of Kahramanmaraş - one of the most severely affected by the devastating earthquakes in February 2023, the Anadolu Agency reported, BTA reports.
The new residential district was built with the support of Azerbaijan and symbolizes the brotherly ties between the two countries.
In his speech, President Erdogan emphasized the Turkish state's commitment to the reconstruction of the affected regions:
“Regardless of the international situation, our top priority remains the reconstruction after the disaster. The earthquake zone has become a huge construction site. We strive to revive all our cities by the end of this year“, he said.
Erdogan added that no other country could have reacted so quickly and effectively after a disaster of such magnitude.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who described Erdogan as a “dear brother“, emphasized the historic nature of the event and the lasting cooperation between the two countries:
“Azerbaijan has always been next to Turkey, and Turkey - next to Azerbaijan. Today's opening is another proof of our indissoluble brotherhood“, Aliyev pointed out.
He recalled the Shusha Declaration signed on June 15, 2021, which officially raised relations between Ankara and Baku to the level of allied partnerships. The document provides for coordinated efforts on issues of security, stability and mutual protection of territorial integrity in the event of a threat.
“Today, our brotherhood is an important factor not only in region, but also on the global stage“, concluded the Azerbaijani president.