Azerbaijani lawmakers criticize Turkish presidential candidate Kilicdaroglu’s Silk Road proposal

By Ruslan Rehimov

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) – Azerbaijani lawmakers on Monday criticized Turkish presidential candidate and main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu’s exclusion of Azerbaijan in his proposal to revive the historic Silk Road, which he called "the biggest project of my life."

Deputy Hikmet Babaoglu told Anadolu that interstate relations should always be stable and in line with national interests.

Saying relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan are based on the philosophy of “one nation, two states,” Babaoglu added: “At the same time, it is unacceptable for a politician who wants to come to power to ignore Türkiye's closest ally, Azerbaijan.”

Babaoglu claimed that Kilicdaroglu’s project is not suitable for the interests of the Turkic world.

"The synchronized action of Türkiye and Azerbaijan in ensuring rights and justice in the complex international relations system, establishing peace in the region and ending the occupation has become a very important factor,” he said, referring to the decades-long illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenian forces.

“The alliance of Türkiye and Azerbaijan has given birth to hope for the oppressed peoples and the peoples whose lands are occupied.”

“Unfortunately, Kilicdaroglu’s thoughts are also contrary to this point of view. I leave these thoughts of Kilicdaroglu to the discretion of the Turkish people,” he added.

“There is an important election in Türkiye in the near future. I am sure that Turkish public opinion will weigh every thought and make appropriate decisions."

- ‘No Turkish road without Azerbaijan’

Another lawmaker, Vugar Bayramov, said it is unrealistic to call Kilicdaroglu’s project the “Turkish road” because “this project does not pass through the territory of Azerbaijan. It is not correct to describe any transportation project that does not pass through Azerbaijan as a 'Turkish road'. At the same time, this is a very costly project,” he said.

“Even if the project is realized, it will not be a profitable project in the short and medium term.”

“The Turkish world will unite with the Zangezur Corridor, not with any projects,” he said, referring to the strip of land connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave.

Zangezur was part of Azerbaijan, but in the 1920s, the Soviets gave the region to Armenia. After this move, Azerbaijan lost its link with Nakhchivan.