Can Erdogan’s Baku visit fix Turkey-Azerbaijan rift?
A dispute over religious dress in schools has exposed deeper tensions between the two allies, with energy, arms sales, Israel and financial interests adding to the strain.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to visit Azerbaijan on Sunday as part of a concerted bid to mend ailing ties between the top regional allies, which have deteriorated over a ban on religious garb in Azerbaijani schools imposed in September.
Erdogan said he would travel to Baku to take part in celebrations marking Azerbaijan’s Nov. 8, 2020, victory over Armenia. The Turkish leader told journalists that there was “an unbreakable bond” between the two nations that extended “far beyond conventional diplomatic ties.” “Telephone diplomacy” was continuing between the two sides, Erdogan stressed, including “between our respective spouses.”
Aliyev’s wife, Mihriban, is also the country’s first vice president and is widely regarded as second only to her husband in power. Turkey’s first lady, Emine Erdogan, holds no official title but is also known to have substantial sway over her spouse.
The depth of the malaise was made evident when Aliyev skipped a Turkic summit in Istanbul last week despite Erdogan having sacked Oktay Saral, his chief adviser who had publicly lashed out at Azerbaijan’s restrictions on Islamic clothing at Baku’s behest. Two Islamist commentators — Muhammed Emin Yildirim, who called Aliyev a tyrant on social media, and Ahmet Sapa, who had also criticized the bans — were detained for questioning in late October and subsequently released.
