Azernews.Az

The Turkish government’s current policy meets the interests of the state and people, an Azerbaijani presidential aide has said on the rising tensions in Turkey-Israel relations, affirming his country’s support for its close ally.

Presidential Administration department head Ali Hasanov said Ankara is fully capable of pursuing an independent and efficient policy.

"The Azerbaijani state has provided the needed support to Turkey so far and will continue to do so," he said.

Azerbaijani First Vice-Speaker Ziyafat Asgarov has said that further tension in Turkey-Israel relations is "undesirable".

"We would like to hope that the problem between the two countries will be solved…I believe that when breaking off ties with any state, it is first necessary to think how these ties were established. Relations are difficult to forge, but severing them is easy.

"But we understand fraternal Turkey’s position. If nine Turkish citizens were killed on board the ship, this is, certainly, the biggest injustice toward Turkey. In this sense, we always stand by Turkey," Asgarov told reporters.

Angered by Israel's refusal to apologize over the nine deaths on a Turkish aid flotilla to Gaza last year, Turkey suspended military ties with Israel, expelled the Israeli ambassador, pledged to support the Palestinians' statehood bid and vowed to send the Turkish navy to escort Gaza-bound aid ships in the future.

Turkish ambassador in Baku Hulusi Kilic said earlier that at a time of Turkey’s tension with Israel, its ally Azerbaijan should reconsider its relations with Tel-Aviv.

But Vice-Speaker Asgarov said Azerbaijan’s relations with other countries should be "treated with understanding".

"Azerbaijan is a new country. We are trying to improve our ties with states that maintain good relations with Azerbaijan," Asgarov said.