TURKEY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORTING AZERBAIJAN’S ARMED FORCES

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
March 6 2007

Baku, 6 March: Turkish Land Forces commander, Gen Ilker Basbug, met
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev in Baku on Tuesday [6 March].

According to a press release issued by the Azerbaijani Defence
Ministry, Basbug and Abiyev discussed various issues, including
military-political status in south Caucasia, continuation of Armenia’s
invading policy, development of the Azerbaijani armed forces, NATO
and Bilateral Cooperation Activity Programme.

In their tete-a-tete meeting, Abiyev told Gen Basbug that Azerbaijan
"appreciates the support Turkey has extended in the establishment
and development of the Azerbaijani armed forces".

Meanwhile, Gen Basbug indicated that the "Turkish armed forces will
continue to support the development of the Azerbaijani armed forces
as much as possible".

Later, Gen Basbug was received by the Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev .

Aliyev told reporters after his meeting with Gen Basbug, "Azerbaijan’s
relations with Turkey are developing rapidly. We need the great
support of the Turkish Armed Forces."

After his meeting with Aliyev, Gen Basbug remarked, "Turkey is ready
to assist Azerbaijan in every way possible."