There is nothing unusual about New Party chairman Özgür Özel calling Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Victory Day and conveying his congratulations to the Azerbaijani people. Although Özel is the leader of Turkey’s main opposition, he is as interested as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in continuing his country’s strategic alliance with Azerbaijan. Therefore, Özel’s telephone conversation with Aliyev also serves Erdogan’s interests.
Globalinfo.az reports that political analyst Elkhan Shahinoglu made the remarks.
“I do not think Özgür Özel’s telephone conversation with Ilham Aliyev is connected to the latest crisis in relations. On November 8, 2024, Özel also called Aliyev and congratulated the head of state on the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the fourth anniversary of Victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. In that telephone conversation two years ago, Özel recalled Atatürk’s words: ‘Azerbaijan’s sorrow is our sorrow, its joy is our joy.’ The New Party leader also informed Aliyev that the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which he chaired at the time, had defended Azerbaijan at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Socialist International. Thanking Özel for the call and congratulations, President Aliyev noted during that conversation that there had previously been certain misunderstandings, but that they were now in the past. Aliyev stressed that cooperation between the New Azerbaijan Party and the CHP was progressing in a positive direction.
The New Party, currently led by Özel, has considerable support in Turkish society. Turkey will hold a presidential election in two years. There is a strong possibility that the candidate supported by the New Party will be elected head of state. From this perspective, dialogue with this party serves to strengthen the Azerbaijan-Turkey alliance. In the near future, Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party and an ally of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, may also visit Azerbaijan. The importance that Turkey’s nationalist party, politicians and experts attach to relations with Azerbaijan plays a special role in resolving crises that arise between the two countries,” he added.
Read also
