BAKU (AA) - Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug has indicated today (Tuesday) that the relations between the Turkish Armed Forces and Azeri Armed Forces are at a level to make friends happy and enemies concerned.
''This is my first visit of Azerbaijan. I am very pleased to be in Azerbaijan. There are many countries with which Turkey has brotherly ties. Azerbaijan is our true brother. Former President of Azerbaijan Haydar Aliyev described Turkey and Azerbaijan as one nation, two states,'' told Basbug.
Azeri Minister of Defense Sefer Abiyev has remarked that Azeri-Turkish relations are very prominent for Azerbaijan. ''The political lines between our two countries have shown development since Azerbaijan's independence. We have witnessed close ties in politics, economics and military related fields,'' expressed Abiyev.
Abiyev commented that Turkey has shown remarkable support of Azerbaijan within the framework of NATO Partnership for Peace program. ''We are thankful to the Turkish government and the Turkish Armed Forces for their continued support of Azerbaijan,'' noted Abiyev.
Abiyev said that the issue of Upper Karabagh was discussed with Basbug. ''Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan met the Azeri President Ilham Aliyev in Warsaw on May 15th. Mr. Erdogan has re-affirmed Turkey's solid stance on the Azeri-Armenian dispute,'' mentioned Abiyev.
General Basbug visited Turkey's Ambassador in Baku Morali after his contacts at the Azeri Ministry of Defense.
(SOL-A֩
2005-05-17