Azerbaijan celebrated on Sunday its sixth Victory Day, marking the end of the Karabakh war.
asserted
Azerbaijan → celebrate → war
Turkey's Erdoğan joined the commemorations to underscore the strength of bilateral ties despite recent differences, with Aliyev declaring that "this unity will last forever".
asserted
unity → join → differences
Azerbaijan marked Victory Day on Sunday with nationwide commemorations celebrating the sixth anniversary of the end of the Karabakh war.
asserted
Azerbaijan → mark → war
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev led the Victory Day commemorations by laying a wreath at the Victory Monument in Khankendi, where he paid tribute to Azerbaijani soldiers and officers who died during the 2020 war.
asserted
who → lead → war
Aliyev called the liberation of Shusha on 8 November 2020 the decisive moment of the conflict and congratulated both the nation and the Armed Forces for their victory six years ago.
asserted
Aliyev → call → victory
“The liberation of Shusha effectively decided the outcome of the Second Garabagh War,” Aliyev said.
asserted
Aliyev → decide → War
In a powerful message about the strength of the ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan despite recent differences, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan travelled to Azerbaijan to participate in the commemorations at Aliyev's invitation.
asserted
Erdoğan → travel → invitation
Erdoğan and his wife, Emine Erdoğan, were greeted by Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in Karabakh.
asserted
Erdoğan → greet → Karabakh
The visit comes after weeks of diplomatic disagreements between Ankara and Baku, along with criticism of Azerbaijan from within Turkish society.
asserted
visit → come → society
Yet on a day of considerable historical significance for both countries, the two leaders spoke of their intent to demonstrate the resilience of their long-standing partnership.
asserted
leaders → speak → partnership
Welcoming Erdoğan, Aliyev described the Turkish president's presence at the commemorations in Karabakh as a demonstration of their alliance's strength during a joint press conference.
asserted
Aliyev → welcome → conference
"This unity will last forever," Aliyev declared.
asserted
Aliyev → last → ?
"Your presence with us on Victory Day brings joy to the entire Azerbaijani people."
asserted
presence → bring → people
He added that the two countries were stronger together and that Erdoğan’s visit to Karabakh demonstrated their unity to the world.
asserted
visit → add → world
In a post on X, Erdoğan said that "six years ago, under the resolute leadership of my brother Ilham, the Azerbaijani people stood united and, with great heroism, restored Karabakh’s freedom."
asserted
people → say → freedom
"This glorious victory remains the finest expression of Azerbaijan’s just cause and a source of pride for the entire Turkic world."
asserted
victory → remain → world
Erdoğan joined Aliyev in reaffirming their special relationship by saying that “those seeking to weaken the Azerbaijan-Turkey brotherhood will never achieve their goals.”
asserted
those → join → goals
Erdoğan's visit also highlighted the alliance's importance as both countries navigate shifting regional relationships and international priorities, with shared strategic interests even when differences emerge over individual policies.
asserted
differences → highlight → policies
Erdoğan sought to reinforce the alliance's importance ahead of his visit, countering criticisms of Baku within Turkish society by saying relations with Azerbaijan extended “far beyond conventional diplomatic engagement.”
asserted
relations → seek → engagement
He also said that the “unbreakable bond” between the countries was a product of “our joint history, culture, destiny, and, God willing, our future.”
asserted
God → say → destiny
“Ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan could overcome all obstacles”, Erdoğan said, and his presence at the Victory Day commemorations appeared to have reinforced that message.
uncertain
presence → overcome → message
Aliyev echoed Erdoğan, describing the two countries' relationship as exceptionally close.
asserted
Aliyev → echo → relationship
“I have said many times that there are no countries in the world as attached to each other as Azerbaijan and Turkey,” Azerbaijan's president said.
'Brotherly Turkish people were by our side'
asserted
people → say → side
The relationship was reinforced during the last 44-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020, when Turkey provided political and military support to Baku.
asserted
Turkey → reinforce → Baku
Azerbaijan's retaking of the strategically important city of Shusha on 8 November marked a turning point in the conflict, with a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement signed two days later on 10 November.
asserted
retaking → mark → November
The anniversary of Shusha’s capture is now commemorated annually as Azerbaijan’s Victory Day.
asserted
anniversary → commemorate → Day
Aliyev acknowledged Turkey's support during the 2020 conflict, whilst directly addressing Erdoğan, stating that “during 44 days, my dear brother, and the brotherly Turkish people were by our side."
The Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance was formalised on 15 June 2021, when the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations was signed, which strengthened defence and security cooperation.
asserted
which → acknowledge → cooperation
A shared vision for the future
As the two leaders made this year's Victory Day a powerful symbol of the historical and political relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, six years after the war, the South Caucasus is entering a new phase with economic cooperation, reconstruction and regional diplomacy shaping its future.
asserted
cooperation → share → future
Turkey and Azerbaijan have had a strong relationship over the last decades, and their cooperation in defence, trade, energy and transport has strengthened connections between the South Caucasus, Central Asia and European markets.
asserted
cooperation → have → Caucasus
The Southern Gas Corridor, which transports Azerbaijani natural gas through Turkey towards Europe, has become increasingly important as European countries seek to diversify their gas supplies and switch away from Russian gas.
asserted
countries → transport → gas
The proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) has also become a wider part of discussions about regional connectivity and economic integration.
asserted
Route → propose → connectivity
Speaking alongside Erdoğan on Victory Day, Aliyev said the partnership had implications beyond their national borders.
asserted
partnership → speak → borders
“Turkey-Azerbaijan unity is an important factor across a vast geographical area, contributing to stability, cooperation, and security,” he said.
asserted
he → contribute → stability
Earlier in the day in Khankendi, Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan's post-war reconstruction efforts and the return of displaced communities.
asserted
Aliyev → highlight → communities
“Today we are building and creating a free Karabakh,” Aliyev said during Sunday's commemorations.
asserted
Aliyev → build → commemorations
Erdoğan said, “We highly appreciate Azerbaijan’s reconstruction efforts in Karabakh,” adding that Turkey would continue contributing its experience to rebuilding the region.
asserted
Turkey → say → region
According to Aliyev, 97,000 people now live, study and work in the territories Azerbaijan regained control of as the government's so-called "Great Return Programme" continues.
uncertain
Programme → accord → control
Official figures show that more than 40,000 residents have resettled in newly constructed communities, including Fuzuli, Zangilan, Lachin and Shusha.
asserted
residents → show → Fuzuli
State infrastructure expenditure across these areas has surpassed €10 billion since 2020.
asserted
expenditure → surpass → 2020
Engineering projects have completed international airports in Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Lachin, alongside 3,000 kilometres of high-capacity highways.
asserted
projects → complete → highways
…and 12 more, not listed.
The Aporia
