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.