In the days of tensions that arouse between Moscow and Ankara after Russian Su-24 was downed at the Syrian-Turkish border, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was among the first ones who expressed his country's readiness to play the role of peacemaker in order to restore friendly relations between Russia and Turkey.
All following actions of Azerbaijani leader, country's diplomatic corps and individual politicians were aimed at achieving this goal. Ilham Aliyev held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, during which he expressed regret and concern over this tension. He particularly emphasized the closeness of Azerbaijan and Turkey and noted that Baku is ready to make its contribution to the settlement process.
Ilham Aliyev was also the first to support the initiative of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who proposed a mechanism of escaping from this crisis to Russia and Turkey. Two countries should create a joint commission on investigation of causes of the incident, "quickly finish it, identify culprits, to punish, admit mistakes and restore relations."
"Azerbaijan is not satisfied with the current state of relations between Turkey and Russia. It goes without saying that both Turkey and Russia play an important role in maintaining security and stability in the South Caucasus region and beyond. We will do everything possible to find a way out of this crisis," the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov reported, and he acted accordingly: Azerbaijan held a series of talks on restoration of bilateral relations with officials of both countries.
As President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated, Azerbaijan had historical close ties with both countries, and this tension only causes regret and concern. There were also many economic reasons for Azerbaijan to try to reconcile Russia and Turkey. "Turkey is our close ally. Russia is also close and friendly country for us. Ties with both countries are at the highest level," deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Novruz Mammadov wrote on his Twitter page.
Over the last decade, Russia has invested more than $1.8 billion into the economy of Azerbaijan, and in turn, Azerbaijan has invested more than $1 billion into the Russian economy. One of the strongest links between Baku and Moscow are more than 2 million Azerbaijanis living or temporarily working in Russia. So Azerbaijani officials and experts, acting as consultants, played a huge role in establishing contacts between Russia and Turkey.
