Türkiye, Azerbaijan laying foundations of new era in region, says Turkish president

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye and Azerbaijan are laying the foundations of a new era in the region, the country's president announced on Saturday.

"With Azerbaijan, we are laying the foundations of a new era in the region. Things will accelerate as Armenia shows progress in peace, security, and tranquility," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at an event in the eastern province of Erzurum.

He emphasized that Türkiye was preparing for its most important breakthrough in its thousand-year old history in the region under the vision of the "Century of Türkiye" initiative.

In late October, Erdogan, who is also the chairman of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, unveiled a series of programs, projects, and targets ahead of the next year's presidential and general elections as the country prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2023.

"On the one hand, we are strengthening our relations with the Islamic world. On the one hand, we are integrating with the Turkic world. Meanwhile, we are uniting with Africa and the Balkans," he said, adding that Ankara had not forgotten of its ties with China or Ukraine, either.

He affirmed that Türkiye was "working round the clock" to connect the gas it discovered in the Black Sea to its national grid.

"On Monday, we will share the good news with our nation," he said, adding that Türkiye would receive more good news once the Black Sea gas is in use.