The demise of the Ottoman Empire’s legal sovereignty over the Balkan region after World War I significantly impacted the Muslim-Turkish community, exposing them to severe threats and deprivations. The Treaty of Lausanne established a process of exchanging and relocating national minorities between Balkan countries and Turkiye, creating a period of relative stability for the region’s Turks and Muslims.
PhD Candidate, Baku Slavic University
The Republic of Azerbaijan
This paper analyzes the influence of Turkiye-Azerbaijan relations with the Balkan countries on the status and rights of the Muslim-Turkish population in the region.
Kosova and Newly Emerged Realities
The international recognition of Kosovo’s independence in 2008 with its far-reaching implications came after a long military-political process that led to different political approaches from Turkiye and Azerbaijan.
While Turkiye was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence, Azerbaijan could not take the same step due to its prioritization of territorial integrity in its own territorial conflict.
Since 2010, Turkiye and Azerbaijan have expanded their political, economic, and cultural ties with the Balkan countries, leading to new opportunities and improved attitudes towards the Muslim-Turkish minorities in the region. Azerbaijan’s energy-transit projects and Turkiye’s political-economic initiatives have strengthened these relations, reducing or eliminating artificial barriers to the Muslim-Turkish population’s participation in social, political, and economic activities.
Azerbaijan’s close relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia have also been important and interesting developments in the region.
Thanks to Azerbaijan’s close relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Khojaly massacre was officially recognized by this country as an act of genocide.Baku maintains close political relations with this Balkan country and carries out cultural and humanitarian activities.
At the same time, non-recognition of Kosovo has led to the establishment of special relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia and the rise of political relations to a high level.
Turkiye’s Involvement in the Balkans
Azerbaijan’s economic relations with Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia have significantly improved the attitude towards the Muslim-Turkish population in these countries. Particularly in the energy sector, Azerbaijan has actively pursued expanding cooperation and investment opportunities.
Cooperation with Montenegro, which has been established for years, extends to the tourism sector as well as Baku’s investment activities in the country. Notably, in 2022, Azerbaijan’s relations with Albania entered a new phase with the TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline) project, which was evaluated as an important step in Baku’s Balkan policy. The high-level mutual visits and signed agreements between the two countries, coupled with Albania’s support for Azerbaijan as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, demonstrate the strong ties between the two countries.
Moreover, with Bulgaria’s and Romania’s recent participation in Azerbaijan’s gas export network, Baku and Ankara’s relations with these countries have been further strengthened. The strategic partnership agreement between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary is also an important development in this regard. Azerbaijan’s good relations with Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, and Greece have contributed to promoting a spirit of peace and cooperation between the regions.
Of course, Turkiye’s cooperation with the Balkan countries has a wider spectrum, and these relations have positive effects in terms of the rights and security of the Muslim population of the region.
The Balkan region is situated in a strategic geopolitical position, making it a place of competition and cooperation between various international powers, including the European Union, Russia, China, and Turkiye. In recent years, Turkish investments and companies have become increasingly represented in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, and to a lesser extent, Greece. Turkiye is emerging as a significant investment and foreign trade partner in these countries.
Notably, Turkish companies have been undertaking large construction projects in Kosovo and other regions of the Balkans. Some examples include the construction and operation of Kosovo’s primary airport by Turkish companies, the construction of numerous power plants in Serbia, and the successful participation of Turkish companies in gas pipeline project tenders in Romania, among others.
In these economic projects, the Muslim-Turkish population of the region has been involved as a labor force, and efforts are being made to improve their employment opportunities and social well-being. Furthermore, Turkiye has implemented a wide range of cultural and humanitarian programs in the Balkans. This includes support for local Muslim populations in activities such as education, assistance, construction of schools and mosques, and providing young people with opportunities for higher education in Turkiye through educational programs and scholarship opportunities.
The close political contacts and visits of Turkiye’s top leadership with the Balkan countries, as well as the extensive relations with both EU and non-EU countries bilaterally and within the framework of international organizations, make a significant contribution to reducing conflict factors in the region and promoting cooperation.
As a result, the active political, economic, and cultural relations of both Turkiye and Azerbaijan with the Balkan region play an important role in transforming the perception of the Muslim-Turkish population. Previously, the high percentage of Muslim-Turkish population was perceived as a strategic threat by Balkan political circles. However, with the changing geopolitical situation and the successful political and economic strategy of Ankara and Baku, Balkan regimes now view the Muslim-Turkish population as a natural basis for high-level cooperation with Turkiye and Azerbaijan. This has led to a more sensitive attitude towards the Muslim-Turkish population in the Balkan countries, with an increase in their representation and roles in social and political life. Respect for their rights and cultural values is also emphasized.
Furthermore, Turkish investments and companies have a growing presence in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece. Turkish companies are involved in large construction projects in Kosovo and other regions of the Balkans, such as the construction and operation of Kosovo’s main airport, the construction of numerous power plants in Serbia, and successful activity in gas pipeline project tenders in Romania. The Muslim-Turkish population is involved in these projects as a labor force, with efforts to improve their employment and social well-being. Turkiye also implements a wide range of cultural and humanitarian programs in the Balkan region, including education and assistance, the construction of schools and mosques, and scholarship opportunities for higher education in Turkiye.
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