Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev was a no-show at the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit, which concluded October 30. Aliyev’s snub of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan signals that tension between Baku and Ankara is running deeper than previously believed.
A feud between the two long-time allies, whose relations have often been characterized as “one nation, two states,” erupted in mid-October initially revolving around criticism from Turkish public figures of new regulations adopted in Azerbaijan that curtailed religious expression in public schools, effectively banning the wearing of hijabs.
Erdogan on October 25 fired an aide who initiated the hijab kerfuffle, causing many observers to believe that bilateral relations would quickly get back on track.
But no.
Aliyev’s decision to skip the summit in Ankara shows the spat is far from over. And where it goes from here is hard to say, given the complexity of the underlying issue dividing the two states.
Aliyev’s absence embarrassed Erdogan, undermining his central message of unity among Turkic states. The summit’s theme was: Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Action.
In comments to the leaders of other Turkic states at the summit, including the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, Erdogan pointed to the “family photo” of participants taken to commemorate the event, saying it “symbolizes both our loyalty to our past and our determination to build our common future together.”
Such rhetoric rang a bit hollow with Aliyev not in the picture. The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who made no reference to the bilateral spat while praising Turkish hospitality.
Commentaries published in the tightly state-controlled Azerbaijani press indicate that the fulcrum of division between Baku and Ankara is now Israel, not the hijab controversy.
by Eurasianet Azerbaijan and Turkey: Feud deepens over differences on Israel
