Turkey to give military support to Azerbaijan, Yilmaz says

Turkey is ready to extend support to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Turkey's defense minister said in Baku yesterday. "We are ready to support, cooperate and join in production with Azerbaijan Armed Forces," Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz told journalists after visiting former Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev's grave in Baku. "A bilateral strategic cooperation agreement [between Turkey and Azerbaijan] has been signed. Turkish Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] and [Azerbaijani] President Ilham Aliyev have also decided on the establishment of a high advisory council," Yilmaz said. The council will be the basis for relations between the two countries, Yilmaz said, adding that there were good and sound relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Yilmaz is currently visiting Baku for meetings with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Sefer Abiyev and was received by Aliyev upon arrival. Turkish Ambassador to Baku Hulusi Kilic and Turkey's defense attaché in Azerbaijan, Brig. Gen. Yucel Karauz, were present at the meeting between Aliyev and Yilmaz yesterday.