Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Wednesday that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership and the Turkish people's unity were decisive in defeating the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, describing the events as a defining moment in Türkiye's modern history.
In a message marking Türkiye's Democracy and National Unity Day, Aliyev commemorated those killed while resisting the coup attempt and extended his condolences to their families and the Turkish people.
Aliyev described July 15 as one of the most tragic as well as one of the most honorable chapters in Türkiye's recent history, saying the attempted coup targeted the country's constitutional order, democratic institutions and national will.
He said the attempt was thwarted through what he called the Turkish people's determination, courage and commitment to their country, citing Erdoğan's leadership in helping steer Türkiye through the crisis.
Referring to the Turkish leader, "Your determined and farsighted leadership, together with the unity of your people around you and their immediate response to your calls, became one of the main factors that saved your country from a great disaster on that critical night," Aliyev said in the message.
