The guest of the programme titled “From Brotherhood to Strategic Partnership: The 21st Century Vision of Türkiye and Azerbaijan”, organised by the Department of Political Science and International Relations of Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU), was Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Ankara, Dr. Reşad Memmedov. Ambassador Memmedov gave a comprehensive and meaningful presentation on the historical roots and strategic dimensions of Türkiye–Azerbaijan relations and their future.
The programme, held at the HKU Law Amphitheatre, was attended by HKU Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan, Embassy Counsellor Dr. Fuzuli Macidli, Azerbaijan’s Trade Representative in Türkiye Tamerlan Taghiyevi, HKU Secretary General Ümit Şahnaoğlu, HKU Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences (FEASS) Prof. Dr. Hanifi Aslan, FEASS Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations Prof. Dr. Ahmet Keser, Prof. Dr. Ramin Aliyev, academics and students.
In the programme moderated by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Keser and Asst. Prof. Dr. Pelin Aliyev of the HKU Department of Political Science and International Relations, Keser once again emphasised that the closeness between Türkiye and Azerbaijan is not limited to diplomatic relations and that the historical brotherhood of the two nations is today crowned with a strategic partnership, while Aliyev stated that Türkiye and Azerbaijan resolutely continue their strong brotherhood stretching from history to the future with the understanding of ‘two states, one nation’.
Opening his speech by emphasising that Hasan Kalyoncu University is among Türkiye’s best universities in terms of both its campus and its education, Ambassador Dr. Reşad Memmedov gave a presentation titled “Azerbaijan–Türkiye Relations: From One Nation, Two States to Strategic Alliance” and answered students’ questions. In his speech, Dr. Memmedov expressed the brotherhood and closeness between the two countries in strong terms, saying: “I am the ambassador of the homeland within the homeland. The strongest country of the Turkic world is Türkiye; Türkiye is the apple of our eye.” Noting that Türkiye–Azerbaijan relations rest not only on diplomatic foundations but on a deep bond of the heart, Memmedov stated that in the 21st century the two countries are demonstrating exemplary cooperation to the world in the areas of shared vision, security policies, energy investments and cultural solidarity.
HKU Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan, noting that the Türkiye–Azerbaijan friendship reaching a strategic level is of great importance for regional peace and stability, said: “It is a great honour for us to host the Ambassador at our university. The Ambassador’s sincere and meaningful remarks at our university today are extremely important for our young people to hear this strong friendship first-hand. This visit is also very meaningful for our university in terms of establishing strategic partnerships with Azerbaijani higher education.”
After the students’ questions were answered, the programme ended with an exchange of gifts between Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Ankara Dr. Reşad Memmedov and HKU Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan, and a group photograph.
