Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The defense ministers of the regional neighbors -- Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia – have come together in Istanbul, Turkey on December 17 to look though the development perspectives of the trilateral military ties.

Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov of Azerbaijan, Ismet Yilmaz of Turkey and Tinatin Khidasheli of Georgia discussed prospects for the development of defense cooperation in a trilateral format, issues of regional security and measures to ensure the stability and economic development, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

The three countries that enjoy the friendly and fruitful relations are actively working to strengthen their trilateral military and defense cooperation in a sustainable manner.

In recent years, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia’s relations reached the level of strategic partnership and play an important role in ensuring peace and stability, sustainable development, the welfare of the three nations.

Azerbaijani and Turkish ministers also held bilateral encounter within the framework of the trilateral meeting.

Following the closed meeting, the defense ministers held a press conference, where they highlighted the role of the dialogue and cooperation between these countries in a time when global and regional dialogue is needed more than ever before.

Turkey’s Yilmaz said deepening of such cooperation will contribute to the development of peace, stability and prosperity in the region, Turkish media reported.

Noting that cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia is quite promising for future, Khidasheli for her part said they wanted to be the Caucasus and the Black Sea regions as a peaceful region.

Azerbaijan’s Hasanov emphasized that this trilateral meeting at the same time is a sign of respect to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of these countries.

Underlining the security of the region is necessary for the entire world, the countries will undertake every activity in accordance with the international law.

Hasanov also informed that the next meeting will be held in Baku, where it is planned to ink a memorandum of understanding in the defense field in the level of the working groups.

Military experts believe that both Azerbaijan and Georgia attach great importance to cooperation with Turkey, which is much more accomplished in the defense industry. Turkey's indigenous defense programs encompass the full spectrum of military operations and include major areas across land, air, sea and space.

Uzeyir Jafarov, a military expert believes that strengthening of cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia in defense field along side with the economic, cultural and other ties, is very good and appreciable in a time when great processes occur in the world, as well as in the region.

As countries are located in a sensitive region, NATO member Turkey’s support to Azerbaijan and Georgia creates certain confidence and safety, according to the expert.

Jafarov said against the background of the events taking place in the region, well-known events in Georgia in 2008, and the occupation of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia for over 20 years necessitates establishing a partnership of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia in the defense field.

The expert said since last year, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia have done in the field of defense; the officials of the three countries held meetings in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan, Georgia, as well as Turkey.

The first initiative of military cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia emerged in 2013 and was followed by the first official meeting of the defense ministers on the sidelines of NATO Ministerial in Brussels, in June 2014.

Further meetings of the ministers in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan in August 2014 and in Georgia's Tbilisi in April 2015 put forward the planning and execution of joint training exercises in view of protecting the region's strategic energy-transport infrastructure.

Against the background of the events taking place in the region, Turkey shows the necessary support to Azerbaijan and Georgia, according to Jafarov.

He stressed that President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that “Azerbaijan supports Turkey in all issues” during Turkish Premier Ahmet Davudoglu’s last visit, confirmed that Baku highly appreciates Ankara’s support to the country.

Such meetings and signing of declaration between the three countries show that these countries can feel safe amid processes taking place in the region, according to the expert.

Jafafov said both Azerbaijan and Georgia needs Turkey as Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia issue, Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh conflict haven’t been solved yet and keep actuality.

He believes defense and military cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia will step in a new phase in future and the three countries will undertake joint measures in the direction of maintaining stability in the region.

Jafarov added that the most important is that these countries plan to hold trilateral and bilateral military exercises, noting this has good perspective.

The first meeting of the chiefs of staff ended with the signing of a trilateral protocol clinching the decision to create Coordination Group in view of regulating the cooperation among armed forces of the three countries.

The group's key directives are to hold joint exercises, courses and trainings, to expand cooperation in the fields of military education and medicine, to exchange experience and to coordinate other issues of mutual interest.

--

Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz