Turkish, Azerbaijani first ladies meet in Ankara

ANKARA

Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan and her Azerbaijani counterpart Mehriban Aliyeva met in the Turkish capital Ankara on Monday.

During the meeting, Erdogan congratulated Aliyeva on her husband Ilham Aliyev’s reelection and discussed potential cooperation between her Zero Waste Foundation and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Furthermore, Erdogan extended her best wishes to Aliyeva for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) this November, which Azerbaijan will host.

Following the meeting, Erdogan on X said she expressed satisfaction to Aliyeva “on the high turnout in the elections held throughout all Azerbaijani territories for the first time in 30 years following the Karabakh Victory,” referring to Azerbaijan last fall regaining full sovereignty over its Karabakh territory after decades of occupation.

They also exchanged ideas on potential collaboration for COP29, according to Erdogan.

“I wholeheartedly congratulate Mr. Ilham Aliyev, who has been reelected to the presidency, and his esteemed wife Mehriban Aliyeva, and wish a successful term in office,” she said, saying she hopes the election victory brings blessings to the friendly Azerbaijani people.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday welcomed Ilham Aliyev in the capital Ankara to discuss all aspects of bilateral relations, as well as steps to further cooperation between the two countries.

Aliyev’s visit to Ankara is his first trip abroad since being reelected earlier this month.