BelaPAN news agency, Belarus Oct 13 2017 Minsk, Baku to develop military ties despite 'Karabakh problem' Minsk, 13 October: Belarus will develop military-technical cooperation with Azerbaijan despite the "Karabakh problem", Alyaksandr Lukashenka [Alexander Lukashenko] said today in Minsk during his meeting with Oktay Sabir oglu Asadov, chairman of the National Assembly (Milli Majlis) of Azerbaijan. "Our trade and military-technical cooperation are increasing. We do not hide this from anyone," Lukashenka said. The Belarusian leader noted that he had spent quite a long time discussing and exchanging opinions on a wide range of cooperation issues with the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on the sidelines of a CIS summit in Russia's Sochi on 11 October. "You will be surprised to hear that the president of Armenia also took part in those discussions, and we all three made jokes at each other," Lukashenka said. "I know that you are a peace-loving nation and, despite the Karabakh problem, you adhere to an absolutely peaceful stance in this regard. That's why, as I told the defence minister [of Azerbaijan], there's no reason for us to explain ourselves to one or another state." Belarus and Azerbaijan develop their relations in accordance with the people's wishes and for the sake of their well-being, Lukashenka noted. "You can rely on us in this respect," he said. "You are not strangers to us. You are our brothers. We once lived in one state. And it is absolutely no problem that you are Muslims and we are Christians." The Belarusian leader asked Asadov to convey his warmest thanks for the cooperation to the Azerbaijani president. "We will follow the path we have chosen," he added.