ANKARA

Citing Türkiye's rising role as an international actor and diplomatic successes, Azerbaijan’s top diplomat on Monday said Türkiye "has become one of the leading countries in the development and implementation of innovations in diplomacy, as in many other fields."

Turkish-Azerbaijani “relations have risen to the level of strategic alliances. However, we have a long way to go and goals to reach," Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister, said at the 13th Ambassadors Conference in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Noting that there have been rapid and serious changes in the international system over the last 30 years, Bayramov said that these developments in fact show the turmoil and dissatisfaction in the international system.

"The increasing social injustice and disregard for human values in the current international system, especially in a crisis situation, is another factor that worries each of us today. We observed the most obvious example of this during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a serious test for our humanity," he added.

Bayramov hailed ties between the two countries and praised Türkiye's role in the international arena.

"We welcome Türkiye's transformation into a leading and central country in diplomacy, and we take your success as our own," he said.

Bayramov added that Türkiye marked its place in history as a country that stands by the truth, righteousness, and justice through its political and diplomatic support to Azerbaijan when it liberated its lands from occupation.

​​​​​​​Türkiye was a key backer of Azerbaijan during the 44-day Nagorno-Karabakh war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which erupted on Sept. 27, 2020 and ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire and sizeable Azerbaijani gains on Nov. 10.