Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday said regarding the munitions fired from Iran that entered Turkish airspace: “Despite our warnings, wrong and provocative steps that will strain Türkiye’s friendship with Iran continue to be taken. No one should enter into a course of action that would cast a shadow over our thousand-year-old law of neighborhood and brotherhood and leave deep wounds in the hearts and minds of our nation.”

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN’S REMARKS:

“At our meeting, we discussed many issues, especially the Iran crisis. We analyzed all scenarios in a multidimensional way, including the possibility of the conflict dragging on and spreading. As the government, we have been on alert with all our institutions since February 28. With our experienced teams, we are following all developments closely. We are not letting our guard down. Our goal is to keep our country away from this fire. The peace and security of our 86 million citizens is our highest priority.

Despite those pouring fuel on the fire, we are carrying water to it and striving to extinguish it before it grows any further, if possible. In the midst of all this effort, we are watching with astonishment the statements of the person leading the main opposition. At a time when missiles are flying through the skies, I leave this individual—who is still chasing polemics and trying to score political points—to the good judgment of our noble nation. Even if he is the chairman of Türkiye’s main opposition party, it is burdensome for us to have to engage with him on this issue. Out of respect for our nation, we sometimes have to respond.

The main opposition has no tangible foreign policy vision. Diplomacy is already absent. What is there instead? Only prejudice regarding the Islamic world. They cannot put forward a sound foreign policy approach centered on Türkiye’s interests. This is an unhealthy attitude. Many countries speak highly of the policy Türkiye is pursuing, and whether our people voted for us or not, everybody is praying for us. Yet the opposition and the main opposition go so far as to accuse the Republic of Türkiye of being in a pitiful state. Such irresponsibility is unacceptable.

Neither our state nor our government is in any way in a state of weakness. Türkiye is strong in every field. It has the capacity to repel any kind of attack. There is only one mechanism that is truly in a pitiful state, and that is them. The attitude of ‘If we are not in power, then we are not responsible’ is not only wrong but also selfish. As a president entrusted with the responsibility of 86 million people, I call on them despite their poor track record: this is not a day for provocation. This is a day to act responsibly and with common sense. Stop political opportunism, and in this sensitive period, try practicing politics centered on Ankara. If you do not support our government, then at least do not hinder it.

Just as it did in the Russia-Ukraine war, just as it did in the Syrian conflict, and just as it did in Israel’s massacres in Gaza, Türkiye stands for peace and stability in the Iran crisis as well. We have been engaged in intensive diplomatic traffic from the very first day. So far, we have spoken with 16 leaders. Our Foreign Minister has made more than 50 phone calls. All our responsible officials are in constant contact with their counterparts. Our ministers are closely monitoring issues related to their respective areas of responsibility. We are leaving nothing to chance. We are also taking the necessary measures to keep the economic effects of the crisis to a minimum.”

Türkiye announced Monday that six fighter jets and air defense systems have been deployed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as part of efforts to strengthen the territory’s security amid regional tensions.

In a statement, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said: “As part of the phased approach to enhancing the security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in light of recent developments in our region, six F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft and air defense systems have been deployed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as of today.”

The statement added that Ankara could take further steps depending on how the situation evolves.

“Additional measures will continue to be taken based on further developments, if deemed necessary,” it said.

The announcement came amid escalating tensions due to the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

On Wednesday, Greek F-16V fighter jets landed at Paphos Airport in Greek Cyprus following recent Iranian attacks linked to the regional escalation.

In Kocaeli, an aircraft that had completed its flight life has been transformed into a science center, becoming a new destination for aviation enthusiasts. Visitors are introduced to aviation history, the scientific principles of flight, and aircraft systems, while also experiencing pilot simulations.

The Metropolitan Municipality converted an Airbus A340 into a science center approximately 3.5 months ago.

Opened in the Çayırova district, the “Aircraft Park Aviation Science Center” takes visitors on a journey through aviation history, flight science, and system technologies.

The 470-square-meter facility consists of an exhibition area and workshop sections. Since its opening, it has welcomed 115,000 visitors. Guests can learn aviation theory, examine aircraft systems, and experience pilot simulation.

The exhibition area beneath the aircraft features a sectional turbofan engine, static jet engine, auxiliary power unit (APU), six-cylinder interactive boxer engine, nine-cylinder radial engine section, mini jet engine, aircraft system experiment areas, real aircraft antennas, and avionics display systems.

FLIGHT TRAINING OFFERED

Guide İbrahim Yılmaz said the center hosts aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

The cockpit section is available by appointment for aviation students and graduates, where flight training is provided free of charge by the municipality.

Cockpit instructor Hamza Kalkan said students of aviation, aeronautical engineering, and pilot training programs receive detailed instruction on cockpit panels and controls, followed by takeoff and landing simulation scenarios.

Azerbaijani politician Musa Quliyev proved to serve agents of influence for Mossad as Israel and U.S. attacks on Iran threaten the stability of the Middle East. With black propaganda aimed at sowing the seeds of discord between longstanding allies Türkiye and Azerbaijan, Quliyev, never the one to criticize Israel, set his sights on former Minister Berat Albayrak and Turkuvaz Media Group, disseminating the allegations that both were “anti-Azerbaijan.” In the process, he conveniently ignored how Albayrak, a former minister of energy and natural resources, was the architect of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).

Quliyev also chose to turn a blind eye to broadcasts and coverage of Turkuvaz Media’s subsidiaries Sabah, Takvim and A Haber supporting the “brotherhood” between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

Türkiye has been steadfast in its alliance with Azerbaijan immortalized in the motto of “two states, one nation” but Quliyev’s scandalous remarks apparently aim to undermine the brotherhood, especially at a time of tumultuous period in the region escalated further with the U.S.-Israel-Iran war.

Quliyev, chairperson of the Labor and Social Policy Committee of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan and a board member of New Azerbaijan Party, targeted Turkuvaz Media and Berat Albayrak, who also served as finance minister in the past, during an interview with the Azerbaijan News Agency (APA). He claimed Turkuvaz was conducting a slander campaign against Azerbaijan, erroneously describing Albayrak as the head of Turkuvaz. His allegations were a clear contradiction of facts and developments in Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations over the past decade.

After the attack on the airport in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, reports of a “false flag operation” by Israel have been circulating. Iran denied the attack while conspiracy theories ran rampant on the social media, claiming it was the work of Israel to drag Azerbaijan into the war.

Ankara, on the other hand, has been clear in its support to Azerbaijan after the attack. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and stressed that the attacks in Nakhchivan were unacceptable. Erdoğan’s call has been the most concrete display of prevailing alliance between the “two states, one nation” but some social media accounts and agents of influence working for Mossad were quick to launch black propaganda to damage the ties. Quliyev, from Aliyev’s own party, played into the hands of these agents to harm the relations between two countries.

ALBAYRAK, TURKUVAZ IN THE SIGHTS

In his remarks, Quliyev targeted both President Erdoğan and his family, by referring to the period when Berat Albayrak served as minister in two separate tenures. He claimed that it was “surprising” that someone close to Erdoğan would be “anti-Azerbaijan.” “During his tenure as minister of energy (and natural resources), he was at the forefront of the anti-Azerbaijan group,” he claimed. Further seeking to slander Turkuvaz Media, Quliyev claimed the Turkish media was not sensitive to Azerbaijan’s issues as much as the Azerbaijani media to Turkish issues. Again, he conveniently ignored Turkuvaz Media outlets’ coverage of Azerbaijan where the nation was described as “Gardaş” or “brother” and “two states, one nation” motto was always adhered.

The Azerbaijani politician claimed Turkuvaz had launched a smear campaign against Azerbaijan and insulted his country’s leadership, in remarks far from the reality which Turkuvaz’s coverage and broadcasts attached extra importance to bonds with Azerbaijan.

Berat Albayrak’s tenure as minister of energy and natural resources is known as the years when Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations experienced their golden age, both economically and strategically. The deals signed during this period have not remained on paper and evolved into spectacular projects. For his part, Quliyev sought to undermine this flourished bond between Türkiye and Azerbaijan during the tenure of Albayrak.

A TIMELINE OF EXCELLENCE IN TIES

During the tenure of Berat Albayrak, the relations between the two countries saw their historical peak. Between 2015 and 2018, when he served as minister of energy and natural resources and between 2018 and 2020, when he was minister of treasury and finance, Albayrak helmed Türkiye to convert “two states, one nation” philosophy into concrete economic and strategic steps.

March 15, 2016: A joint declaration was signed by President Erdoğan and President Aliyev at the fifth High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting. It was followed by the signing of six cooperation agreements, including those on military and civilian personnel exchange, working permits of next of kin of staff of diplomatic missions, cooperation in forensic examinations, mutual recognition of driving licenses and technical cooperation.

October 30, 2017: The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) Railway Line was officially opened.

June 12, 2018: The opening ceremony of the TANAP project, which carries Azerbaijani gas to Europe via Türkiye, was held. “We are taking a historical step for our region,” as Erdoğan described in the ceremony.

October 19, 2018: The STAR Refinery, built by SOCAR in Izmir, was opened. With an investment of $6.3 billion, it became the largest single-site real sector investment in Türkiye.

2020 Karabakh War: During the 44-day war, Türkiye provided the strongest diplomatic and moral support to Azerbaijan.

BERAT ALBAYRAK: AN ARCHITECT OF TANAP

Although he is unfairly branded as anti-Azerbaijan now by Quliyev, Berat Albayrak actually made a name for himself as one of the architectst of TANAP. In his own words from 2018, TANAP was “an investment in brotherhood.” “It is the greatest legacy that the true friendship and affection between the two countries will leave to the future,” he said back then.

Quliyev’s claim that Berat Albayrak is “anti-Azerbaijan” is further refuted by the parliamentary minutes he himself signed. Archives show that Quliyev previously applauded the period he now calls “opposition” as the “peak of brotherhood.” According to the parliamentary minutes from 2018 and 2021, he described TANAP as “the greatest monument of brotherhood” and praised Türkiye’s energy policies as a “flawless success.”

Furthermore, Musa Quliyev stands out with statements where he refuses to criticize Israel. In the Azerbaijani National Assembly, he is one of the most ardent defenders of relations with Israel, using the definition of “reliable friend.” According to official records, he advocates that the relationship between the two states is on an upward trend and should increase further.

These statements in official records have raised the question that whether Quliyev, who holds a high-level position in Azerbaijani President’s party, was deliberately seeking to strain brotherly relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, carrying out a duty for Israel.

It remains to be seen what steps Azerbaijani authorities would take in light of Quliyev’s remarks and for the sake of brotherhood between two countries.