Turkey to Become Azerbaijan's No. 1 Partner in Military-Technical Cooperation

Baku / 13.08.20 / Turan: President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that Turkey will soon become Azerbaijan's number 1 partner in the field of military-technical cooperation (MTC).

Aliyev said this on Thursday at a meeting with a delegation of Turkish military leaders in Baku.

In particular, the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkey Hulusi Akar, the Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces Yaşar Güler, the commanders of the Ground Forces, the Air Force and the Turkish Navy, and other high-ranking military officials attended the meeting, according to a statement published on the website of the President of Azerbaijan.

“Today is the last day of the Turkish-Azerbaijani joint military exercises. The first stage of military exercises is coming to an end. This is a very significant event that once again demonstrates our unity and brotherhood,” Aliyev said.

More than 10 joint exercises are held annually in both Azerbaijan and Turkey. “Therefore, their holding is a common occurrence. There is no need to look for any extraordinary circumstance here. We, too, are seeing these exercises raise concerns in some countries. But there is no reason for this. This is another manifestation of Turkish-Azerbaijani unity and brotherhood,” Aliyev said.

He pointed to the rapid development of the bilateral cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres.

“It is no secret that at present Turkey has a powerful military-industrial potential, which we also use. We are very pleased that Turkey today produces the most modern weapons and military equipment. Of course, we, as it was until today, want to continue to use these opportunities. I am sure that in the near future Turkey, as in all other spheres, will become our number one partner in the field of military-technical cooperation,” Aliyev said.

Aliyev also pointed to Turkey's support for Azerbaijan during the "next attack of the Armenian armed forces on Azerbaijan" in mid-July.

“Turkey was the first and unequivocal country to support us. My dear brother, dear President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, you, dear Mr. Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and other officials have repeatedly made very harsh and serious statements that Turkey will always be next to Azerbaijan. This encourages us even more and again testifies to how close we are to each other,” Aliyev said.

He noted that the intensity of joint military exercises will only grow.

“From the first day, all our 83 million people, headed by Mr. President, angrily condemn the latest attack in Tovuz. We see that these provocations are a large-scale attack and contradict international law, that this is a continuation of criminal actions since the time of the Khojaly genocide and the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh. You are aware of our position on this. Azerbaijan is our brother, we are like two sons of one mother,” Turkish Defense Minister Akar said in turn.

He indicated that Turkey will continue to develop military cooperation with Azerbaijan.

“We have framework military agreements, agreements on cooperation in the field of military education, and we cooperate in the defense industry field. As a logical result of all this, we have a strategic cooperation agreement signed in 2010. Thus, within the framework of these agreements, our trips, contacts, and joint attendance at exercises are quite natural activities. Until now, we have done everything necessary for the sovereignty, independence and security of our countries, and we will continue to do so,” Akar said.   —06D-