Turkey offers condolences for deaths of Azeri soldiers

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

A file photo shows Aliyev and Erdoğan during a press conference in Ankara in 2013. DAILY NEWS Photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has extended his condolences to Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev, two days after 12 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed during clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Erdoğan conducted a phone conversation with Aliyev on Aug. 3 prior to his presidential election campaign rally in Istanbul and offered his condolences for the Azeri soldiers killed.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said the clash erupted after Armenian reconnaissance troops were spotted while attempting to reach Azerbaijani positions in the towns of Aghdam and Terter.
      
The two countries have accused each other of escalating tensions near the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) issued a statement on Aug. 2 warning against further escalation.

An Azeri Foreign Ministry statement accused Armenia of provoking “a substantial escalation along the frontline” and causing casualties. “The whole responsibility is on official Yerevan, which has given orders for such provocative steps,” it said.

For its part, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of raising tensions before blaming Yerevan.