Ankara: The second trilateral meeting of the interparliamentary friendship groups of Trkiye, Azerbaijan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) took place at the Grand National Assembly of Trkiye (GNAT), focusing on enhancing collaborative ties.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Azerbaijan was represented by a delegation led by Javanshir Feyziyev, head of the Azerbaijan-TRNC friendship group, and Ahliman Amiraslanov, head of the Azerbaijan-Trkiye interparliamentary friendship group. The delegation also included MPs Eldar Guliyev and Anar Mammadov. The discussions proceeded under the theme ‘Three States, One Nation’, with Samil Ayrim, head of the Trkiye-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group, highlighting strong relations between Ankara and Baku. He referred to the recent meeting of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the U.S. in the White House, underscoring the potential of the Zangezur corridor.
Samil Ayrim described the corridor as ‘Trkiye’s window to the Turkic world’ and emphasized infrastructure developments like the Kars-Nakhchivan railway and the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline. He assured that Ankara would safeguard Azerbaijan’s interests, including the opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders.
Orhan Erdem, head of the Trkiye-TRNC interparliamentary friendship group, thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his support to the TRNC. Erdem noted that the establishment of a working group on interparliamentary relations with the TRNC by the Milli Majlis marked a vital step for Turkish Cypriots and Trkiye. He acknowledged the first foreign parliamentary visit by the Milli Majlis delegation to Lefkosa and mentioned ongoing efforts to create interparliamentary friendship groups with the TRNC and other nations.
Ahliman Amiraslanov, head of the Azerbaijan-Trkiye interparliamentary friendship group, praised the partnership among Azerbaijan, Trkiye, and the TRNC. He highlighted the successful cooperation between Trkiye and Azerbaijan across different areas and emphasized Trkiye’s support during the 44-day war. Amiraslanov mentioned the significance of the Shusha Declaration and President Ilham Aliyev’s commitment to strengthening ties with the TRNC. He stressed the need for new interparliamentary friendship groups, an issue raised at TURKPA meetings.
Javanshir Feyziyev, head of the working group of the Milli Majlis on interparliamentary relations with the TRNC, described Northern Cyprus as ‘the shared responsibility of the Turkic world’, urging all Turkic states to address challenges faced by Turkish Cypriots.
TRNC parliamentarians expressed optimism for enhanced relations with Azerbaijan. The meeting continued with discussions held behind closed doors.