Statecraft or schizophrenic drift?

Interstate relations based on national interests are  difficult to build but easy to damage. Let us recall the ruptures with Syria over Friday prayers in Damascus and with Egypt over the Rabia theme. 

Both of these have gone down in history as heavy bills imposed on our country by personal fantasies that did not take Türkiye's national interests as their basis, were completely detached from realpolitik, and by meaningless and baseless finger-wagging that nevertheless pleased the political base. 

What is described above should be noted as the inevitable consequences of a political schizophrenia that excludes the state's deep memory and institutional reason. 

It is time to leave the cautionary examples of the recent past there and turn to a current issue that appears likely to lead to serious consequences.

Azerbaijan recently adopted and began implementing a decision banning garments such as the turban, chador and veil in educational institutions and the public sector. 

Although the issue concerns Azerbaijan's internal affairs and domestic functioning, the fact that the reaction that began among the ruling party base at home turned into harsh messages sent from the Presidential Complex to Baku shows that not the slightest lesson has been learned from the foreign policy fiascos of the recent past mentioned above. 

The excitement and enthusiasm created in Türkiye by the liberation of Azerbaijani territory Karabakh from Armenian occupation and the 2nd Karabakh victory are undeniable proof of the same/one nation, the single spirit, living in two separate geographies. 

The brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, stemming from unity of roots/lineage, is too important to be sacrificed to fundamentalist fanaticism, bigotry and political schizophrenias. Türkiye-Azerbaijan friendship is a necessity imposed by realpolitik, economic and political interests, linguistic/cultural unity and a common future. In short, it is a matter of survival for both countries/states 

For the reasons described, the “One nation, two states” bond between Türkiye and Azerbaijan must never be allowed to be disrupted over the headscarf.  

Before wagging fingers, it should be carefully considered who would benefit from the deterioration of warm relations between the two states!