On October 20, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated in the opening ceremony of Zangilan International Airport. The airport was the second one built in the territories of Karabakh regained by Azerbaijan during the war against Armenia in 2020.
After Erdogan’s plane landed in the airport, the Presidents cut the red ribbon symbolizing the opening of the new airport. The symbolic keys of the airport were handed to the Presidents.
Following the ceremony, Erdogan and Aliyev also attended other opening ceremonies in Zangilan and another regained district Jabrayil, including the first stage of the “Dost Agropark” smart agricultural complex in Zangilan. The two then laid the foundations stones at Gumlag railway station, Azerbaijan-Turkey International Forest Training Center, “Smart Seedling” and “Friendship Forest” Complex in Jabrayil.
The Presidents followed up with a joint press-briefing in Jabrayil. Aliyev recalled the opening of the Fuzuli International Airport in September 2021, which was the first airport built in post-war Karabakh and was also attended by Erdogan. “It shows that we are together in all joyful days,” Aliyev stated.
Erdogan talked about the districts and cities of Karabakh destroyed during the Armenian occupation.
“We should push the West into a corner. They [the Armenians] must be forced to pay a reparation for the occupation and destruction of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh. We all need to see the true face of the West”.
Erdogan
Turkish President also sent a message on Azerbaijan’s long-pushed Zangezur Corridor idea, which it says was agreed according to the ceasefire statement that ended the Armenia-Azerbaijan war in 2020. The would-be corridor aims to allow Azerbaijan to access it Nakhchivan exclave through southern Armenia with no customs barriers or checks.
In my opinion, fears and worries among some circles about the Zangezur Corridor, which will connect Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan, are unfounded. There is no place for such fears after the steps taken in all of Karabakh. Azerbaijan is moving forward with confident steps. This road, while contributing to peace and stability in the region, will present opportunities of trade and investment for countries on the Middle Corridor route with access to the Caspian Sea.”
Erdogan
