Turkish Minister Calls for Closer Military Ties
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
July 21 2005
Baku Today / Assa Irada 21/07/2005 18:00
The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict was in the focus of
discussions at a meeting of the visiting Turkish Minister for Defense
Vecdi Gonul with his Azerbaijani counterpart Safar Abiyev on Wednesday.
The two also exchanged views on cooperation between the two countries
within NATO and Turkey’s role in building Azerbaijani Army.
Gonul stressed the need for strengthening military relations. The
Karabakh conflict should be settled within Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity, he said.
Abiyev said Turkey is expanding ties with Azerbaijan within the
framework of NATO Partnership for Peace Program. Turkey undoubtedly
supports Azeri Armed Forces, as Azerbaijan is its strategic ally and
this cooperation will be sustainable, he said.
Abiyev termed the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines as important economic
achievements. Azerbaijan and Turkey are successfully cooperating in
ensuring the security of international export pipelines, he said.
On Thursday, the Turkish Defense Minister will meet with President
Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Rasizada. The two countries’
defense ministries will sign an agreement on training, education and
technical cooperation in mapping.
Gonul will wrap up his visit on Friday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress