Baku, September 7, AZERTAC

Turkish Presidential Administration has made a "One Nation, Two States" documentary on the Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood and Armenia’s recent provocations in Tovuz district.

AZERTAC presents the documentary which highlights the Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents’ speeches on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, footages from Tovuz following aggressor Armenia’s large-scale provocation on July 12 in the district, as well as remarks by some officials and civilians.

Host: Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia escalated again on Thursday when Armenia violated the ceasefire.

Triggering the latest artillery bombardment and drone attacks at north of Nagorno-Karabakh… What’s been described as the worst outbreak of violence. Several homes in Tovuz region were destroyed as the Armenian army hit a village with heavy artillery.

Mayor General of Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense Huseyn Mahmudov:

Tovuz region is strategically very important to Azerbaijan because this is the highland. Our battle position is located on highland. As they wanted to capture that in order to keep under pressure all surrounded villages and from that point they can launch another attack in the depth of our defense in this region.

Assistant to President of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev:

Why Armenia started from Tovuz? I believe they had certain strategic goals but they have failed to achieve them. Their first goal was to divert attention from the Armenia’s occupation and aggression against Azerbaijan, in other words, from Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Secondly, they tried to pose strategic threats to the strategic communication links of Azerbaijan along the East-West corridor.

Head of Nizami Ganjavi International Center Elnur Aliyev:

If you look at the map of Azerbaijan, you will understand that this area is crucial not just for Azerbaijan but for much broader region. You know, Azerbaijan has implemented strategic projects in the region and initiated those projects in fact, and those pipelines which are the backbones of those strategies. Specifically gas and oil pipelines, they are all passing from the specific region which is very close to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Head of Yeni Musavat Media Group Rauf Arifoghlu:

I am from Tovuz, Azerbaijan. Our village was also bombed. Due to our proximity to the Armenian border, my village has been under fire for more than three decades. So far 30 civilians have died in our village. Teachers, villagers… While they were sitting in their houses, bomb attacks martyred them.

Daughter of Tovuz attack victim Zarnishan Gozalova:

The ceasefire was violated by Armenians on the 12. On the morning of the 14th, a shell fired by an Armenian fell on our house. There was an explosion in our house, my father was killed. My father was a civilian, not a soldier. I don’t know if I can express my feelings.

Mayor General of Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense Huseyn Mahmudov:

From the first moment of this incident that happened in Tovuz region starting from 12 of July we immediately felt the great support from Turkey.

President Ilham Aliyev:

Turkey was the first country which declared its support to us. My dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan made very sharp and strong statements several times.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan:

Turkey has an old friendship and brotherly ties with Azerbaijan and will never hesitate to stand against those who attack Azerbaijan’s rights and soil.

Head of Yeni Musavat Media Group Rauf Arifoghlu:

Firstly, there was President Erdogan’s speech which was very decisive and clear speech for Armenians. After that, the army’s arrival to Azerbaijan and the rise of “Turkish hawks” to the skies of Azerbaijan was an important event. These exercises coincided with such a critical time had comforted the Azerbaijani people, especially the people living in these regions.

Mayor General of Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense Huseyn Mahmudov:

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Turkey in terms of security of Azerbaijan. Turkey plays indispensable role and it gives us leverage and gives us courage to battle all enemy attempts to capture our lands. It gives us additional courage to be ready to go to operation and to liberate the occupied lands.

Assistant to President of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev:

I will say that military exercises and joint military action between Turkey and Azerbaijan has an emotional, symbolic and practical part. In 1918, Turkish soldiers came to Azerbaijan to support their brothers. It was a difficult time for Turkey, for the1st World War but they came as a brotherly support. So that to stop the bloodshed of Azerbaijanis that have been conducted by Armenians and Dashnak groups and also Bolsheviks.

Head of Yeni Musavat Media Group Rauf Arifoghlu:

In 1918, the Islamic Army of the Caucasus led by Nuri Pasha came to Azerbaijan. The Russian and Armenian troops had committed massacres in Baku at that time. 30 000 Azerbaijani Turks were killed. They came and saved us. Nuri Pasha’s 1100 soldiers were martyred.

Assistant to President of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev:

100 years later in 2018, with the presence of the leaders of the two countries, President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijani Armed Forces and Turkish Armed Forces marched through the downtown of Baku center.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan:

Turkey and Azerbaijan have a common history, culture, language and religion. They are two brotherly countries. As the renowned poet Bakhtiyar Vahabzade said with his beautiful words ‘the two sons of a mother, the two branches of a cause. One is exalted and so is the other one. Azerbaijan, Turkey.’

President Ilham Aliyev:

I wish the Turkish and Azerbaijani people advancement and development and want to emphasize that the Turkey-Azerbaijan friendship is unshakable and eternal.

Assistant to President of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev:

Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation, partnership and brotherhood first of all comes from the ethnic kinship between these two countries and based on this ethnic kinship and our countries are building with the strategic and comprehensive cooperation in all spheres. First of all, this cooperation is a mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of Azerbaijani people and for the benefit of the Turkish people.

Head of Nizami Ganjavi International Center Elnur Aliyev:

For Azerbaijani people any cooperation with Turkey is so natural as if cooperation inside the country itself.

Assistant to President of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev:

By this cooperation Azerbaijan and Turkey extensively contributes to the regional peace, regional prosperity and regional development. One example: TANAP and TAP project. It brings together Caspian Sea, South Caucasus, Black Sea region, Georgia, Balkan countries, European countries and finally, contributes to the energy security of the European Union and it also consists of oil and gas pipeline systems, including the East-West of Silkway road connectivity which is also a road that connects Central Asia, Caspian Sea with the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.

Head of Nizami Ganjavi International Center Elnur Aliyev:

I think that the cooperation of Azerbaijan and Turkey enables all the projects which is happening, strategic projects, not for the Caucasian region itself, but for the much broader geographical area.

Assistant to President of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev:

In Azerbaijan and Turkey, we believe that best prosperity is a shared prosperity. With other all elements that contributes to the regional peace, security and architecture here is a question: Can Armenia be a part of that, of this process? The answer is yes, but Armenia must end its policy of occupation, should finally build civil relations with the neighbors and also with Azerbaijan and with Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan:

We are very concerned that the ongoing tensions since the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh may turn into a conflict due to the reckless behavior and systematic attacks of Armenia.

Head of Yeni Musavat Media Group Rauf Arifoghlu:

We all know that Turkey not only stands by Azerbaijan in the Karabakh issue but also in all matters. Therefore, we are happy. This is a fact that shows that we are not just 10 million.

Head of Nizami Ganjavi International Center Elnur Aliyev:

The very famous statement by the leaders of the two countries and this is a historic statement that this is one nation, and two countries. This statement reflects historical truth and this statement reflects the culture, and the history of two nations. In fact, this is the one nation, and this relationship was historically forged and in fact, this is very difficult to understand where is the border? That border between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Assistant to President of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev:

We are one nation, and two states. It’s a very emotional thing for every Azerbaijani, and I believe it’s also a very emotional thing for every citizen of Turkey. Based on the slogan, and we have very prospective future and we are moving towards that direction.