By AZE.US
Criticism of Azerbaijan in Turkish social media should not be allowed to turn into a dispute between the two allied countries, Baku residents said in a street interview focused on recent tensions over Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel.
The TV Musavat survey followed online criticism triggered in part by the presence of an Azerbaijani delegation member in the U.N. General Assembly hall during a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Turkish social media users also debated Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel and claims involving the hijab, according to the report.
The informal street poll was not presented as a scientific survey, but it showed a range of public reactions. Some respondents said online posts would not damage the strategic alliance between Baku and Ankara.
One participant supported the Azerbaijani representative’s decision to remain in the hall, saying Azerbaijan has its own national interests and must make independent foreign-policy decisions.
Other residents warned that harsh rhetoric could worsen the atmosphere between the two societies even if government-level relations remain stable. Several described the controversy as an attempt to drive a wedge between Azerbaijanis and Turks.
A common theme was support for maintaining close ties with Turkey while preserving Azerbaijan’s right to set its own foreign policy.
The full street interview is available on YouTube.
Source: Vesti Baku.