International leaders praise Turkish nation's unity, resilience in face of 2016 coup attempt
Azerbaijan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Qatar on Tuesday marked the ninth anniversary of the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt in Türkiye, voicing solidarity and support for Ankara.
In a message addressed to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev praised Türkiye's resilience in the face of the 2016 coup attempt, saying that it emerged "with honor and even greater strength" and proved its power to the world.
He described the night of the coup attempt as a remarkable example of courage, highlighting the heroic stance of the Turkish people who defended their homeland, state, and flag, including hundreds at the cost of their lives.
Emphasizing solidarity, he called July 15 a symbolic day of national unity and reaffirmed Azerbaijan's unwavering support for Türkiye as part of the principle of "one nation, two states."
Aliyev also underlined Türkiye's fight against terrorism, emphasizing the country's determination to build a terror-free future, adding that the terrorist group PKK's recent decision to dissolve itself and lay down its arms is a clear result of Ankara's “strong political will and a victory of national unity and solidarity."
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also shared a message of support, calling July 15, 2016 a proud day in history when “the brotherly people of Türkiye resolutely defended their statehood and national will.”
The TRNC also commemorated the July 15 martyrs with a ceremony, with President Ersin Tatar and other top officials paying tribute to the heroic resistance to the coup attempt.
Tatar stressed the crucial role of Türkiye's unity and democracy in regional stability, saying: “At the call of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, millions took to the streets to repel this treacherous attack with epic resistance and protected Türkiye's democracy.”
He also emphasized that Türkiye's overcoming of the July 15 coup attempt, its restoration of stability, and its steadfast support for Turkish Cypriots hold vital importance for the TRNC.
According to a statement from the Qatari Emiri Diwan, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani extended congratulations to Erdogan marking the anniversary of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.
The defeated coup bid, in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 were wounded, was plotted and carried out by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its US-based leader Fethullah Gulen.
