Politics
Azerbaijan marks Independence Day | Daily Sabah
May 28 is the anniversary of Azerbaijan’s first independent state in the 20th century, declared in 1918. Although short-lived, it represents the resilience of the country for sovereignty and is observed as Independence Day.
The Azerbaijani Democratic Republic, or the Azerbaijan People’s Republic, was declared on May 28, 1918, by the Azerbaijani National Council. It lasted only for 23 months, but throughout this period, it embarked on ambitious reforms, from freedoms in the economy, education, religion and conscience, providing equal rights to all citizens. Indeed, Azerbaijan was among the first countries in the East to provide women’s suffrage. The republic also stood out as a beacon of Turkish presence in the region, declaring Turkish as the state’s language and making the language mandatory in middle schools.
After the collapse of the Russian Empire following World War I, new political structures emerged in the Caucasus region. On May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijani people exercised their right to self-determination and declared independence.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, proclaimed by the Azerbaijani National Council in Tbilisi of modern-day Georgia, became the first republic based on popular sovereignty in the Caucasus and the Turkic world.
The republic not only declared independence but also quickly established the foundational elements of a modern state. A parliamentary system was created, introducing a multiparty political system. Comprehensive reforms were launched in law, education, foreign policy and the military. One of the most notable steps was granting women the right to vote and be elected. This made Azerbaijan the first Muslim-majority country to grant women political rights.
Due to the occupation of Baku by Armenian and Bolshevik forces, the Azerbaijani government operated for a time in Ganja, the country’s second-largest city. The Ottoman Empire was the first state to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence, signing an agreement on June 4, 1918. As part of this, then-Minister of War Enver Pasha formed an army under the command of his brother, Nuri Pasha (Killigil), to assist Azerbaijan. Known as the “Caucasus Islamic Army,” this force liberated Baku on Sept. 15, 1918, allowing the government to relocate there. The army suffered 1,130 casualties during the battles to reclaim Baku.
Azerbaijan quickly implemented reforms in the economy, education, and freedom of religion and conscience, setting historic precedents. Equal rights were granted to all citizens regardless of race, religion, sect or gender.
It became the first Muslim-majority country in the East to grant women suffrage. The republic introduced its own currency and postage stamps and established the State Bank and Baku State University.
To defend against external threats, Azerbaijan formed its own army on June 26, 1918, with significant involvement from Ottoman officers.
On June 27, 1918, the government declared Turkish the official state language. Turkish-language instruction became mandatory in secondary schools, which had previously been taught primarily in Russian.
On Dec. 7, 1918, the 120-seat parliament began its sessions. Representing all political parties and ethnic groups, the parliament passed 230 bills during its 17 months of activity.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic lasted only 23 months. Soviet forces entered Baku on April 28, 1920, ending the republic’s existence and beginning Soviet occupation. However, the reforms and ideals established during this brief period deeply influenced Azerbaijan’s political identity and left a lasting legacy.
Mehmed Emin Resulzade, recognized as the founder of Azerbaijan, famously said, “The flag once raised will never fall.” This phrase became a rallying cry for Azerbaijanis years later.
After the Soviet occupation, many government officials and intellectuals fled the country but continued to champion Azerbaijan’s cause throughout their lives.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan declared independence again, recognizing itself as the successor state to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic of 1918-1920.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday described the trilateral cooperation mechanism between Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia as a guarantor of peace and stability in the South Caucasus, highlighting the growing importance of the Middle Corridor as a strategic link connecting Europe and Asia.
Speaking at a joint news conference following a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Istanbul, Fidan said the platform had become an important vehicle for advancing regional cooperation, connectivity and economic development at a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty.
“The Middle Corridor has become one of the strategic backbones of our trilateral cooperation,” Fidan said, referring to the trade and transportation route stretching across the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
The corridor spans from China’s Lianyungang province through Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia, before reaching Türkiye. It is increasingly seen as an alternative to Russia-dependent routes and traditional maritime pathways, which face rising costs and security pressures.
Fidan said the cooperation mechanism serves not only the common interests of the three countries but also contributes to peace, stability and sustainable prosperity across the wider region.
“We view this mechanism as one of the guarantees of peace, stability and sustainable prosperity in the South Caucasus,” he said.
The foreign minister noted that the world is experiencing a period marked by simultaneous geopolitical crises, rising economic uncertainty and growing concerns over energy security.
“In such a period, the environment of peace and cooperation we have established in our region represents genuine strategic value,” Fidan said.
He argued that the partnership among Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Georgia contributes to stability, connectivity and energy supply security across a vast geography extending from Europe to Asia.
Energy cooperation remains a central pillar of the trilateral relationship, Fidan said, emphasizing that major infrastructure projects developed jointly by the three countries have helped minimize the impact of global energy disruptions.
“Access to energy at reasonable costs and without interruption has become a vital issue for the entire world,” he said.
Fidan said the next objective is to create a more integrated region through expanded energy, transportation and communications infrastructure, a move he said would provide a safer, faster and more predictable transit route between Europe and Asia.
As part of those efforts, he highlighted the strategic importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, a key transportation corridor linking the three countries. He described a ceremony held on June 2 on the Georgian section of the railway line as an important milestone toward achieving full operational capacity.
“We aim to maximize the benefits of this strategic route and generate greater added value for our region,” Fidan said.
The Turkish foreign minister also stressed that regional prosperity depends on stronger connectivity and cooperation, arguing that economic integration can reinforce peace while peace itself creates conditions for deeper regional partnerships.
Azerbaijan, Armenia peace
The ministers also discussed efforts to establish lasting peace in the South Caucasus, particularly ongoing negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Fidan said Türkiye supports the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and hopes a peace agreement can be signed without delay.
“The will demonstrated by the parties has opened a concrete window of opportunity for our region,” he said.
He added that Türkiye’s own normalization process with Armenia continues in close coordination with Azerbaijan.
The year 2025 marked a period of intensified engagement between the two former Soviet nations, with contacts expanding from political dialogue to confidence-building measures on the ground.
A major breakthrough came on Aug. 8, when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Washington under U.S. mediation and signed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to ending decades of conflict. On the same occasion, the foreign ministers of both countries initialed a peace agreement, underscoring a shared determination to advance toward full normalization.
According to Fidan, the strengthening of peace would accelerate connectivity projects throughout the region, while enhanced connectivity would help solidify the social and economic foundations of peace.
“This cycle serves the common interests of the entire region,” he said.
Despite positive developments in the South Caucasus, Fidan warned that the broader regional security environment continues to face serious risks.
Among the issues discussed during the meeting were ongoing diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States. Fidan said ending the conflict that has threatened regional and global stability remains essential and reiterated Türkiye’s support for diplomacy and dialogue.
“Türkiye will continue to support diplomacy and dialogue during this critical period,” he underlined.
The foreign minister also addressed the Russia-Ukraine war, describing a peaceful resolution as crucial for regional stability and security. He said Ankara remains concerned about the current deadlock both on the battlefield and in diplomatic negotiations.
“The steps taken by the parties to improve their positions have unfortunately increased tensions on the ground,” Fidan said
He pointed to recent attacks in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov as examples of the dangers posed by continued escalation.
Fidan also expressed condolences to Azerbaijan over recent casualties linked to regional tensions, extending his sympathies to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and the Azerbaijani people.
Concluding the meeting, Fidan said the three countries had reaffirmed their shared vision for the future of the South Caucasus and their commitment to deepening cooperation.
“The stronger cooperation among our countries becomes, the safer, more prosperous and more stable the South Caucasus will be,” he said.
Türkiye’s Disinformation Combat Center (DMM) on Monday has denied reports alleging that Turkish fighter jets harassed aircraft carrying Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and other European officials or violated Greek airspace.
In a statement posted on social media, the DMM described the claims as false and said Turkish aircraft did not engage in any harassment activities.
According to the statement, six aircraft were operating on routes between Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration on June 7. The DMM said four of those aircraft violated the airspace of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), prompting the deployment of two Turkish F-16 fighter jets stationed in the TRNC for air policing duties.
The agency said the Turkish jets operated exclusively within TRNC airspace and did not enter the airspace of the Greek Cypriot administration.
The DMM also rejected allegations that Turkish aircraft violated Greek airspace during flights conducted on June 6 as part of celebrations marking the 115th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force and the “Youth and Aviation Festival.”
According to the statement, all flights were carried out within the designated operational area of the 2nd Main Jet Base Command and did not enter Greek airspace.
The center urged the public not to give credence to what it described as claims aimed at creating provocation and misleading international audiences.
The allegations emerged amid longstanding tensions between Türkiye and Greece over airspace, maritime boundaries and Eastern Mediterranean disputes.
Tensions have flared intermittently in recent years between the historic rivals, who remain divided over where their continental shelves begin and end in the Aegean, an area believed to hold significant energy potential and linked to disputes over airspace and overflights.
Türkiye and Greece are at odds over a range of issues, including disputes in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, airspace and maritime jurisdiction claims, the status of demilitarized islands and the Cyprus question.
Despite periodic tensions, the two NATO allies have in recent years pursued a cautious normalization process through high-level diplomatic contacts, confidence-building measures and cooperation on trade, migration and tourism, while continuing to maintain sharply differing positions on sovereignty and regional security matters.
On the other hand, Ankara deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to the TRNC on March 9, describing the move as a legitimate measure to strengthen deterrence and protect airspace against rising missile and drone threats.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is already divided but all eyes are still on the party’s parliamentary group meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
In the Turkish political tradition, group meetings offer a platform for the chairs to relay the party’s views on current developments and broadcast live on national television. The CHP, however, now has two chairs: Özgür Özel, who was ousted from the office over a vote-buying trial, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, his predecessor who was reinstated as the outcome of the same trial.
Özel last week defied the Kılıçdaroğlu administration and spoke at the parliamentary group meeting, this time as parliamentary group chairperson of the party. His speech was peppered with criticism of the Kılıçdaroğlu administration and the former leader now apparently decided to hit back as he announced he would address the lawmakers at Tuesday’s meeting at Parliament. It is unclear whether Özel will attempt to make the speech in the presence of the chair, who was branded as “traitor” by Özel’s supporters. But all signs show he is intent to defy Kılıçdaroğlu. Özel was scheduled to attend an event to honor a late mayor of the CHP in his constituency Manisa but media outlets reported that he scrapped the plans and will be at the parliament on Tuesday.
It is the first time at Parliament that a party is sharply divided yet all members still retain memberships. The CHP is notorious for disrupting the parliamentary sessions in the past but this time, it is likely that the parliamentary group meeting will be a chaotic occasion as the anger is brewing over Kılıçdaroğlu’s reinstatement.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan persuaded U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon a plan to arm Iranian opposition groups and Iraqi Kurdish groups against Tehran after details of the proposal were allegedly leaked to Türkiye by officials within the White House, Israeli media outlets reported Friday.
Citing security sources, The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli officials believed Washington would support the proposal because it could increase pressure on Tehran without requiring U.S. ground forces to enter Iran.
The report alleged that details of the initiative, which involved arming Iranian opposition and Iraqi Kurdish groups, were passed to Türkiye by certain White House officials. According to the claims, Erdoğan subsequently raised the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump and convinced him to cancel the plan.
Israeli sources reportedly accused U.S. Vice President JD Vance of leaking information about the proposal. However, Vance’s special assistant and press secretary, Luke Schroeder, denied the allegation.
Under the reported plan, Israel would have provided not only a no-fly zone for Kurdish groups but also air support against Iranian forces attempting to halt their advance.
The report further claimed that Israel intended to supply opposition groups with weapons seized from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. It added that publication of the information had received approval from Israeli military censors.
The allegations follow remarks by former Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) chief Tamir Hayman, who recently told U.S. broadcaster PBS that Israel had explored a range of covert options aimed at destabilizing the Iranian government.
According to Hayman, those discussions included encouraging attacks by groups opposed to Tehran, including organizations linked to the PKK terrorist group, and other efforts designed to weaken the Iranian leadership.
Hayman also claimed that a plan to arm anti-Iran Kurdish groups ultimately failed after Erdoğan persuaded Trump not to proceed.
Separate reports in the Israeli press later alleged that Mossad had supplied weapons to Iranian opposition Kurdish groups as part of efforts to undermine the government in Tehran.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş on Friday called for intensified efforts to build a new global political and economic order, arguing that existing international institutions are increasingly unable to respond to conflicts and global crises.
Speaking at a roundtable event hosted by the Swedish Institute of International Affairs during an official visit to Stockholm, Kurtulmuş met with academics, diplomats and representatives of think tanks to discuss Türkiye’s role in a changing world, the future of Europe, NATO and the reform of the international system.
Referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s long-standing call for reform of the United Nations Security Council, “The world is bigger than five,” Kurtulmuş said, “We must intensify our efforts toward establishing a new global economic and political architecture. More than ever, what is needed today is a renewed commitment to dialogue, negotiation and mediation for peace.”
Kurtulmuş emphasized that the world was undergoing a profound transformation marked by armed conflicts, migration pressures, climate change and rapid technological advances. He argued that current international institutions have suffered a loss of both legitimacy and effectiveness.
“The institutions still exist, but their influence is becoming increasingly limited,” he said. “The United Nations Security Council’s capacity to prevent crises and end wars has been largely neutralized by the veto powers of its permanent members.”
He pointed to the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict involving Iran, and the situation in Gaza as examples of the shortcomings of the current international system.
Kurtulmuş accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and imposing an apartheid-like regime on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, describing the Palestinian issue as a test of humanity’s conscience.
“When Gaza is destroyed and this is described as an operation, when the discourse of counterterrorism is used to justify genocide, and when humanitarian aid blockades are presented as security measures, international law begins to collapse,” he said.
The speaker also highlighted growing strategic ties between Türkiye and Sweden following Stockholm’s accession to NATO in 2024, saying the alliance remained a cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security.
Kurtulmuş noted that Türkiye would host two major NATO gatherings in the coming weeks: the NATO Parliamentary Summit in Istanbul on June 28-29 and the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara on July 7-8.
He said the meetings would provide an opportunity to reaffirm the alliance’s political unity and strategic objectives while strengthening transatlantic ties.
A fisherman was killed after a Turkish-flagged fishing boat was attacked in the Black Sea west of the Crimean Peninsula, causing the vessel to sink, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Coast Guard Command.
The vessel, identified as the DURU 67, was operating off Sevastopol when it sustained damage during the attack on June 5, the statement said.
A nearby Turkish fishing boat, BURAK KAYA, evacuated five injured fishermen from the sinking vessel and began heading toward the northern Turkish coast near Inebolu. However, one of the injured fishermen, who was reported to be in critical condition, died during the journey.
The Coast Guard said patrol vessel TCSG-96 reached BURAK KAYA at 7:20 p.m. local time in the northern section of Türkiye’s Search and Rescue Region, about 115 nautical miles from İnebolu Port.
The body of the deceased fisherman and the injured crew members were transferred to the Coast Guard vessel, where medical treatment was initiated before returning to İnebolu.
The perpetrator of the attack was not immediately identified.
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