Report claims Turkey is preparing Azerbaijan for war
The recent visit by a group of high-ranking Turkish
military officials to Baku has prompted reports saying Turkey is
setting the stage for Azerbaijan`s war with arch-foe Armenia.
The www.haber.sol.org.tr website has published a story regarding the visit by senior representatives of the Turkish Armed Forces Headquarters entitled "Turkey is preparing Azerbaijan for war." It said Turkey was conducting military exercises for the Azerbaijani military, which is issuing warnings to Armenia over the launching of hostilities. It is for this reason that deputy chief of Turkey`s military staff, General Hasan Igsiz, paid a visit to Baku but did not fully disclose its purpose, the report claimed.
Commenting on the matter, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry spokesman, Eldar Sabiroghlu, said the rapprochement between Turkey and Azerbaijan should not intimidate anyone. "Just like in other areas, cooperation between the two countries is developing in the military field. The visit by high-ranking representatives led by the Turkish deputy chief of staff to Azerbaijan was paid under a bilateral agreement on military cooperation. Such mutual visits have always taken place. This time, efficient discussions were held within high-level dialog, accordingly. Such meetings should not produce a notion that Turkey is preparing Azerbaijan for any plans or hostilities against Armenia.
"If the invaders fail to withdraw from our land and battles are inevitable, Azerbaijan will be able to handle this on its own. Our country has both the military power and human potential for this," Sabiroghlu said.
Azerbaijani and Turkish military officials held high-level meetings on December 22 during a visit by the delegation headed by General Igsiz. While in Baku, he also met with President Ilham Aliyev and Minister of Defense Industry Yaver Jamalov.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have yet to accomplish anything substantial.
The www.haber.sol.org.tr website has published a story regarding the visit by senior representatives of the Turkish Armed Forces Headquarters entitled "Turkey is preparing Azerbaijan for war." It said Turkey was conducting military exercises for the Azerbaijani military, which is issuing warnings to Armenia over the launching of hostilities. It is for this reason that deputy chief of Turkey`s military staff, General Hasan Igsiz, paid a visit to Baku but did not fully disclose its purpose, the report claimed.
Commenting on the matter, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry spokesman, Eldar Sabiroghlu, said the rapprochement between Turkey and Azerbaijan should not intimidate anyone. "Just like in other areas, cooperation between the two countries is developing in the military field. The visit by high-ranking representatives led by the Turkish deputy chief of staff to Azerbaijan was paid under a bilateral agreement on military cooperation. Such mutual visits have always taken place. This time, efficient discussions were held within high-level dialog, accordingly. Such meetings should not produce a notion that Turkey is preparing Azerbaijan for any plans or hostilities against Armenia.
"If the invaders fail to withdraw from our land and battles are inevitable, Azerbaijan will be able to handle this on its own. Our country has both the military power and human potential for this," Sabiroghlu said.
Azerbaijani and Turkish military officials held high-level meetings on December 22 during a visit by the delegation headed by General Igsiz. While in Baku, he also met with President Ilham Aliyev and Minister of Defense Industry Yaver Jamalov.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. The OSCE-brokered peace talks have yet to accomplish anything substantial.