NEWS.am posts the article the article by Amanda Paul published in Today’s Zaman daily.

“There is an old Azerbaijani proverb: “The art to being wise is knowing what to overlook.” When considering the WikiLeaks cables, this may prove to be wise advice. WikiLeaks has undressed everybody, with some leaders being left more or less naked by the revelations,” the daily reads.

“The Turkey-Azerbaijan story is interesting. These two countries describe themselves as “one nation, two states,” a Turkic-tandem, always in harmony with never a cross word. Turkey is the big brother, while Azerbaijan, in the eyes of Ankara, is the little brother, looking admiringly up at Turkey.”

“However, WikiLeaks contradicts this. According to the cables, the relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkey is presently far from harmonious. While in front of the camera they are all toothy grins and brotherly love, behind closed doors it is a different story. WikiLeaks released material that describes Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as harshly criticizing Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), including calling their foreign policy “naive” and their initiatives a “failure.” Since then Aliyev has denied everything. The two countries -- rather like a Hollywood couple -- are maintaining a business as usual appearance,” the daily says.

“Turks do like to see Azerbaijan as a little brother and usually expect Azerbaijan to toe their line. After all, in this region Azerbaijan is “Jimmy no friends” at war with Armenia, while having precarious ties with Iran and a wary relationship with Russia. When Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993, as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh war and Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories, Turkey felt Azerbaijan should repay this with strong loyalty. However, Turkey’s rapprochement with Armenia was taking loyalty too far. Azerbaijan deeply resented it. The idea that Turkey could open the Armenian border without progress on Nagorno-Karabakh was totally unpalatable. Azerbaijan felt betrayed and went on to use its number one foreign policy tool, “oil and gas,” to put Turkey over a barrel in gas negotiations. With the normalization process with Armenia now frozen, Turkey-Azerbaijan relations are back to normal. Or are they?” the author stresses.

Following numerous conversations with Turkish and Azerbaijani officials I would say that relations are not as cozy as they are made out to be. Azerbaijani’s are usually tight lipped. Nobody apparently wants to be caught criticizing Ankara. However, if they do open up many express concern over what they view as a creeping conservatism in Turkey under the AKP and its possible implications for Azerbaijan. Some believe that the AKP is trying to “export” this to Azerbaijan -- that may answer the question as to why Azerbaijan still has a visa regime for Turks. They also resent the fact that Turkey seems to begrudge Azerbaijan’s growing importance in the region. For Turkey there can only be one regional hub -- itself. Ask Turkish officials how they view Baku and they are more loose lipped -- Azerbaijan became too arrogant, or Aliyev is overplaying his cards. After everything that Turkey did for Azerbaijan, what did Azerbaijan ever do for Turkey? They also complain about the Russian “footprint” in Azerbaijan such as too much spoken Russian and Russian schools, and “why oh why” did Azerbaijan not adopt the exact same alphabet as Turkey rather than creating their own with “special” letters. While both are Muslim states, Ankara is seemingly going for the world record for the maximum number of mosques per kilometer. Azerbaijan is keeping this under tight control,” the source reads.

“Azerbaijanis may have a tendency to be nationalistic, but this is principally because they lack self-confidence with the ongoing occupation of 20 percent of their territory continuing to eat away at them. Baku wants to project itself as an increasingly important and successful nation. This sometimes comes across as arrogance. Azerbaijan wants to be recognized in its own right as a country on the rise and a key ally of the West, not as a small brother or a “throw away” friend.”

While Azerbaijan and Turkey are both Turkic nations, Azerbaijan is not Turkey. There is only room in the world for one Turkey. Azerbaijanis have many different characteristics because of the legacies of other powers that have ruled their lands. Azerbaijan is “one of a kind” being European, Muslim and a post-Soviet state at the same time. This has given Azerbaijanis a unique character that I hope they will never lose. Whether that be eating plates of jam with their tea, their amazing hospitality, their passion for vodka or even how they negotiate a deal.

“Nevertheless it is perfectly normal that Turkey and Azerbaijan are always going to have close ties. Turkey regularly describes it relations with Azerbaijan as the most important bilateral partnership in current Turkish foreign policy, while Azerbaijan foreign policy affirms its relationship with Turkey as one of its most enduring bilateral relationships. However, it is also probable that many officials in Ankara and Baku would not be opposed to a change of leadership in the other’s country. Erdoğan would like somebody more like himself (impossible) while Baku would welcome a more Kemalist regime. They both may have to wait some time yet,” the author concludes.