Azerbaijan and Türkiye discuss military cooperation prospect

On May 21, the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with the delegation led by the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces, Army General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

Before the meeting Turkish delegation visited the graves of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva in the Alley of Honor, as well as the Alley of Shehids (Martyrs) and Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery. The guests laid wreaths and flowers and honored their blessed memory.

The Minister of Defense Colonel General Z.Hasanov received the Turkish delegation. The Defense Minister welcomed the guests and expressed his satisfaction with seeing them in Azerbaijan. The Minister noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye are based on friendly and fraternal relations. He spoke about the positive results of the reforms held in the Azerbaijan Army under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mr. Ilham Aliyev.

Army General S.Bayraktaroglu expressed his gratitude for the hospitality shown. He emphasized that such meetings are important for the development of military cooperation between the two fraternal countries.

The meeting also discussed the development prospects of cooperation in the military, military-technical field and regional security issues.

Then the Turkish delegation met with the First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev and Advisor to the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Bakhtiyar Ersay.

The meetings at the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army expressed satisfaction with the current state of Azerbaijani-Turkish military cooperation based on mutual trust and support.

Within the official visit, the Turkish guests visited the headquarters of the Land Forces. Welcoming ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Land Forces. The visitors passed along the guard of honor. The national anthems of Azerbaijan and Türkiye were played, and the Book of Honor was signed in accordance with the protocol.

The Deputy Minister of Defense – Commander of the Land Forces, Lieutenant General Hikmat Mirzayev met with the Turkish delegation.

At the meeting, the importance of conducting joint military exercises for the purpose of increasing the professionalism of the servicemen from both fraternal countries, as well as exchanging mutual experience, was emphasized, and detailed views were exchanged on a range of other issues.