Following the tension that began between Turkey and Azerbaijan due to statements made by Chief Advisor to the President Oktay Saral, new claims have emerged regarding the phone call between AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of Azerbaijan İlham Aliyev. Journalist İsmail Saymaz, sharing information obtained from his sources in Azerbaijan, alleged that the meeting did not go positively and that if Saral had not left his post, Aliyev would not have attended the summit in Ankara.
ERDOĞAN HAD INVITED ALIYEV TO THE SUMMIT IN ANKARA
Erdoğan and Aliyev held a phone call on October 21. The Presidential Communications Directorate announced that the meeting covered Turkey-Azerbaijan relations as well as regional and global developments.
The statement noted that Erdoğan expressed his determination to take cooperation between the two countries to higher levels, celebrated the 35th anniversary of Azerbaijan's independence, and invited Aliyev to the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States to be held in Ankara on October 29-30.
Journalist İsmail Saymaz, however, brought different claims regarding the behind-the-scenes of the meeting to the agenda.
SAYMAZ: THE PHONE CALL DID NOT GO POSITIVELY
In his article published in Sözcü newspaper titled "Baku does not want a 'big brother'", Saymaz included his meetings with high-level state officials and journalists in Azerbaijan and alleged that the phone call between Erdoğan and Aliyev did not go well.
Saymaz stated that the sources he spoke with said, "The phone call between Erdoğan and Aliyev did not go well."
STRIKING CLAIM REGARDING ALIYEV'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SUMMIT
One of the prominent claims in Saymaz's article was the connection between Oktay Saral's departure from his post and Aliyev's participation in the Ankara visit.
Conveying the assessments of his sources in Azerbaijan, Saymaz stated that it was alleged that Aliyev would not have come to Turkey if Saral had not left his post. Saymaz wrote that his sources said, "If Saral had not been removed, Aliyev would not have come to Turkey."
Stating that Aliyev will attend the Organization of Turkic States summit to be held in Ankara on October 29-30, Saymaz also shared his sources' assessment regarding the future of relations between the two countries: "Azerbaijan-Turkey relations will not be the same as before."
REASONS BEHIND BAKU'S REACTION
Saymaz stated that the discomfort on the Azerbaijani side was not limited only to Saral's statements, and that Turkey's approach toward Azerbaijan was also a subject of criticism.
Noting that sources in Baku believe Turkey sees itself in a superior position to Azerbaijan, Saymaz conveyed this approach with the words: "Turkey treats us like a big brother, the problem stems from this. Aliyev does not accept anyone's superiority."
In Saymaz's article, the disagreements experienced after the Karabakh War and criticisms directed due to Azerbaijan's relations with Israel were also shown as past reasons for the tension between the two countries.
THE PROCESS LEADING TO OKTAY SARAL'S RESIGNATION
Chief Advisor to the President Oktay Saral had reacted by criticizing the practice of not allowing students wearing headscarves into schools in Azerbaijan. Following Saral's statements, it was alleged that the Azerbaijani administration requested his removal from Ankara.
Following these developments, it was claimed that Saral left his post upon the instruction of President Erdoğan. In a statement to journalist Talat Atilla, Saral confirmed that he had left his post, and when asked if the decision was related to his words regarding Azerbaijan, he replied, "Yes, that seems to be the case."
In a statement he made on October 26, Saral also announced that he had submitted his resignation from the position of Chief Advisor to the President, which he had held since 2016.
News Source: 12punto
