President Aliyev Hails Türkiye-Azerbaijan Brotherhood at Post-Quake Housing Ceremony in Kahramanmaraş
Kahramanmaraş, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday reaffirmed the deep unity and enduring brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Türkiye during a key delivery ceremony for newly constructed post-earthquake housing in the Turkish province of Kahramanmaraş.
Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President Aliyev extended heartfelt solidarity to the people affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye in February 2023.
“I express the respect and love of the Azerbaijani people to all the people living in the earthquake-affected areas. You know and should know that you have 10 million brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis also know that we have more than 80 million brothers and sisters in Türkiye. Long live Türkiye! Long live Türkiye-Azerbaijan unity and brotherhood!” he declared.
President Aliyev emphasized that the Azerbaijani people had treated the earthquakes as a shared national tragedy. He noted that tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis rushed to fulfill their fraternal duty by sending humanitarian aid and assistance immediately after the disaster.
He praised the rapid reconstruction efforts led by President Erdoğan, highlighting that thousands of families received new homes within a short span of time. “This is a testament to your commitment, love, and strong determination toward your people,” Aliyev said to President Erdoğan. “At the same time, this is also evidence of a strong Türkiye—because only a strong state can carry out such large-scale reconstruction in such a short time.”
According to President Aliyev, more than 1,000 Azerbaijani personnel were deployed to the disaster zone. Azerbaijani rescue teams saved 53 people from the rubble, while Azerbaijani doctors provided medical assistance to 3,200 individuals through two field hospitals established in the region.
He described the inauguration of the “New Azerbaijan Neighborhood” in Kahramanmaraş—a housing project built jointly by the Azerbaijani government and Türkiye’s Housing Development Administration (TOKİ)—as a “remarkable event” and further proof of the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.
“Azerbaijan has always stood by Türkiye, and Türkiye has always stood by Azerbaijan,” Aliyev stated. “Today, my participation along with my dear brother in the opening of the ‘Azerbaijan’ quarter is further evidence of our unity and friendship.”
The Azerbaijani President underlined that this unity is not only crucial for the region, but also carries global significance. He referred to the Shusha Declaration, signed in 2021, which elevated Turkish-Azerbaijani relations to the level of a formal alliance.
Aliyev also recalled Türkiye’s unwavering support during Azerbaijan’s 44-day war with Armenia over Karabakh in 2020, stating that Ankara’s solidarity provided critical strength in a time of need.
Praising the resilience of the people of Kahramanmaraş, he added, “They did not break or bend. They knew and believed that behind them stood a strong leader—Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Behind them stands a strong Türkiye.”
On February 6, 2023, two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 struck 11 provinces in southern Türkiye, including Kahramanmaraş, affecting over 13.5 million people in Türkiye and countless others in northern Syria. The newly inaugurated homes in the “New Azerbaijan Neighborhood” are part of ongoing recovery efforts to restore lives and rebuild communities devastated by the disaster.
