May 15, 2016•Update: May 22, 2016
QABALA, Azerbaijan
Turkey’s defense minister on Sunday said that Ankara wants to see problems over occupied Karabakh and the Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia resolved.
Ismet Yilmaz was speaking in the city of Qabala in Azerbaijan at a trilateral defense meeting with representatives from Baku and Tbilisi.
At a joint news conference held after the meeting, Yilmaz stressed that the countries’ strategic partnership had a long history.
“In this regard we have committed to increasing our relations to the best levels in all areas. We support Georgia’s NATO membership and appreciate its performance in reform efforts in this way,” he added.
Regarding recent Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes and the occupied-Karabakh question Yilmaz said: “Armenia cannot continue its offensive, war and occupation policy. Nothing comes out of this policy. …[The] dispute should be solved amicably with respect to Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and political independence.”
Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The Moscow-aligned entities are also recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.
Georgia fought a five-day war with Russia in 2008 over the breakaway regions but lost control of both, while Russia recognized both South Ossetia and the Abkhazia as independent states.
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said three friendly, neighboring countries had achieved great economic projects. He also added that a military partnership agreement is underway; Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli said it would boost the 25-year-old relations between the countries.
*Anadolu Agency correspondent Ahmet Sait Akcay contributed to this report from Ankara.
