United by language and culture, and presently also by gas and oil, Turkey and Azerbaijan often appeal to the “two states, one nation” slogan, says the article by Yigal Schliefer published in The Christian Science Monitor. Schliefer underlines that this slogan is being put to test these days, following Turkey and Armenia's recent signing of Protocols to restore diplomatic relations and open up their borders. That's something Azerbaijan is strongly opposed to, in the wake of the deal with Armenia that doesn't address a territorial dispute between Azberbaijan and Armenia.

“The new tension between Ankara and Baku is raising concern that the Azeris – who sit on top of large reserves of oil and gas – might scuttle energy deals that involve Turkey, especially the Nabucco pipeline project, designed to ease Europe's dependence on Russian natural gas.
As Turkey tries to deal with one of its historic problems in order to improve relations with a neighbor, it appears other historic problems are creating new tension with another neighbor, with possible consequences for European energy security,” the article reads.

The author quotes Azerbaijani political analyst Ilgar Mammadov: “If those countries which are genuinely interested in Nabucco project influence Armenia so that it steps back from the occupied territories and both Azerbaijan and Turkey will be satisfied, then this will be remembered as only an episode in Turkey-Azerbaijan relations.”
According to Vafa Guluzade, former foreign affairs advisor to the previous Azeri president, Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan considers Armenian-Turkish border a betrayal. “We are looking at Turkey as our main partner in the region and Armenia as our main enemy. The reaction is natural,” he says.

“Nothing can change the fact that Turkey will always stand by Azerbaijan and Turkey's position on Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and its territories under occupation,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said during visit to Baku. However Guluzade says “Baku is looking for stronger reassurances.”

Schliefer also quotes Huseyin Bagci, a professor of international relations at Ankara's Middle East Technical University: “Azerbaijan has to realize that discussion of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue can only happen if the Turkey-Armenia border opens. It's a nationalist slogan, it's nice to hear, but it's never been the case. We have never been one nation.”