Turkey ready to back Azerbaijan

The command of the Turkish Armed Forces announced about its support for Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani defense ministry told Trend on Aug. 4.

Turkish National Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, Chief of General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces General Necdet Ozel and commanders of various divisions of the Turkish Armed Forces expressed deep condolences to Azerbaijani Defense Minister Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov and families of those killed while defending the territory, preventing the attacks of the Armenian sabotage and reconnaissance groups on the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. They wished recovery to the wounded.

The command of the Turkish Armed Forces stressed its solidarity with the defense ministry and expressed support for Azerbaijan and its Armed Forces.

Armenian armed forces launched a diversion on the night of July 31-August 1, when reconnaissance and sabotage groups tried to cross the contact line of the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops through the territories of Aghdam and Terter regions.

Armenia's reconnaissance and sabotage group attacked the positions of Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijan's Aghdam and Agdere regions on the night of August 1-2. Azerbaijan managed to locate the group and the sabotage attempt was prevented.

During the last four days, Azerbaijani positions have been constantly under attack, and 13 servicemen have been killed, several more were wounded. Armenian side suffered more losses while trying to hide this fact from the public.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.