By Emin Avundukluoglu
ANKARA (AA) - A ruling party Turkish lawmaker on Wednesday congratulated Azerbaijan on celebrating its 26th Independence Day.
"Turkic people cannot be held in captivity," Necdet Unuvar, the head of parliament’s Turkey-Azerbaijan friendship group, said about the Azerbaijani people, the Turks' ethnic kin.
"We have never accepted captivity, nor will we ever accept it in the future," Unuvar, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Adana deputy, told journalists.
Azerbaijan, which gained its independence from the U.S.S.R. 26 years ago, celebrates its Independence Day on Oct. 18.
Azerbaijan was established in 1918, but existed for less than two years before falling to Soviet occupation.
Unuvar cited the efforts of an Ottoman general, Nuri (Pasha) Killigil, in establishing Azerbaijan’s independence.
Unuvar said that Turkey and Azerbaijan have stood in solidarity for Azerbaijan's independence as well as against last year’s defeated coup attempt in Turkey.
"If Turkey and Azerbaijan cooperate, there is no power which we cannot defeat."