Turkey attaching great importance to Azerbaijani defense industry’s development
By Trend
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unsolved as
recently tensions on the frontline of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
armies have increased. The minister of national defense of Turkey
Vecdi Gonul spoke to Trend on the pressing topic, as well as
touched upon the Syrian crisis, fight against terrorism and other
issues.
- What are the main reasons for the delay in the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? And based on what
principles should the conflict be solved?
- The time has come to put an end to the occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh and other Azerbaijani lands within the principles
of international law, that will ensure stability in the region. The
recent developments along the contact line of Azerbaijani and
Armenian troops once again prove the need for an immediate
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is the main
obstacle to the establishment of peace and stability in the South
Caucasus.
Stability and peace in the region are possible only in case of
liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories and the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.
After the end of the “Cold War”, the occupation of Azerbaijani
lands by Armenia, and namely the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is one of
the most important issues on international community’s agenda
today.
For Azerbaijan Turkey is an opportunity to reach the West, and for
Turkey Azerbaijan is the opportunity to reach the Central Asia.
This fact has even more strengthened the two countries’ fraternal
and friendly relations, which are more than a century old, and for
this reason exactly, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue has become as
important for Turkey, as it is for Azerbaijan.
Turkey is closely watching the processes related to the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and supports the efforts to
resolve it within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. At the
multilateral platforms and during the dialogue with third
countries, Turkey, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, always
raises the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is
considered our problem as well.
But there is a fact that the OSCE Minsk Group hasn’t been able to
achieve serious progress throughout 20 years in the conflict’s
settlement. Turkey fully supports Azerbaijan in the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, since the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one
of the most important and priority issues in Ankara’s foreign
policy. Turkey will continue to support the righteous fight of
Azerbaijan and will always keep this issue on the agenda.
- How do you assess Azerbaijani-Turkish relations in
the defense industry sphere? Which joint projects are planned to
promote these relations?
- Alongside with developing political and economic relations,
Ankara pays special attention to developing the relations in the
defense industry sphere within the historic and brotherly relations
with Azerbaijan.
Turkey attaches great importance to the development of not only its
own defense industry sphere, but also that of Azerbaijan and takes
into account Azerbaijan’s demands in this sphere. In this regard,
in order to ensure the state needs, Turkey speaks for cooperation
between the armed forces of the two countries.
Azerbaijan is the most important strategic partner for Turkey in
the region and there are close relations between Azerbaijan and
Turkey which produces military defense systems. I believe that both
sides should make even more contribution in developing and
strengthening the defense industry sphere.
The sides can strengthen the relations in the defense industry
sphere by creating a model of open technology transfer and exchange
of experience in defense industry. In order to do this, the sides
should pay special attention to creating and developing Tactical
Area Communications System (TASMUS), creating air force management
and control system, electronic military system, as well as armored
military vehicles.
Turkey and Azerbaijan can implement a number of projects to develop
the defense industry sphere. I believe that the sides can cooperate
in such spheres as construction of shipyards, creating service area
for vessels, creating unmanned aircraft, optical and
electro-optical products.
- Islamic State (IS) terrorists’ activity intensifies
in Syria and Iraq every day. Is this a threat for Turkey? Is it
enough to conduct just military operations to neutralize
terrorists?
- Turkey takes the necessary measures to eliminate the danger
imposed by the IS. Turkey cooperates with the countries united by a
common goal. The country also supports the coalition forces by
contributing to the fight against the IS.
The Turkish parliament adopted a mandate in 2012. According to it,
Ankara may take any measures to combat terrorism and other threats
against the country, reflect the danger that may arise from the
terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, protect the interests of the
country before and after the crisis. And this gives Turkey the
right to fight against any kind of danger that poses a threat to
the Turkish state’s safety.
Effective fight against the IS and ensuring the country’s security
are among Turkey's priorities. Along with this, it is worth noting
that the emergence and strengthening of the IS comes from the
instability in Syria, which is supported by the Syrian regime.
As long as the forces feeding the IS aren’t removed, it won’t be
possible to destroy it. In short, the fight against the IS will
also contribute to stability and security in Syria. And this is
possible through realization of the Geneva agreements, which will
ensure the requirements of the Syrian people.
Political pressure must be put on the Syrian regime to achieve
stability in that country and to start political negotiations. Only
this way it is possible to achieve progress in this crisis, and
after that a complete elimination of the IS will be possible. Along
with this, it is needed to exchange intelligence data and to
cooperate in the fight against terrorism. Iraq, which has made
significant progress in the fight against the terrorism, can be an
example.
- How do you assess the relations between
Turkic-speaking countries? Which steps should be taken to develop
them?
- Turkey speaks for developing the relations between
Turkic-speaking countries. Following the collapse of the Soviet
Union, significant progress was achieved in developing the
relations between Turkic-speaking states. However, on the other
hand, currently, there are some structural problems between these
countries due to geographic location and political principles.
Water resources management, problems related to borders, ethnic
problems make the ethnic rapprochement between Turkic-speaking
countries difficult. But all this doesn’t hinder the continuation
of cooperation within historical and ethnic values.
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan created the
Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States in 2010 as part of
cooperation and developing the relations with Turkic-speaking
countries and this is of special importance for developing the
relations between the mentioned countries.
The goal of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States
headquartered in Istanbul, is to consolidate and strengthen the
economic relations between these states. Moreover, one of the goals
of the Council is to strengthen the cultural relations between the
Turkic-speaking countries. The Council’s fifth summit to be held in
Kazakhstan in September 2015 will focus on the issues related to
communications and media technologies.
In accordance with the status of neutrality, Turkmenistan is not a
member of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States, but
participates in some of its events. However, currently, Uzbekistan
avoids ties with the Cooperation Council of the Turkic-speaking
States.
Turkey has always supported the Turkic-speaking countries after
they gained independence and spoke for developing the bilateral
relations. TURKSOY, which is considered the UNESCO of Turkic world,
was created in 1993 in order to develop the relations between the
Turkic-speaking countries.
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