Turkish, Azerbaijani defense ministers discuss tension at Armenia border

ANKARA

Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar held a telephone conversation on Nov. 16 with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Zakir Hasanov, to discuss Azerbaijan-Armenia tension.

Hasanov informed Akar about recent tension at the Armenian border, stressing that Armenia's "provocation was prevented," according to a statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Akar stressed that Turkey, as always, stands by Azerbaijan, the statement added.

Armenian armed forces once again opened fire on Azerbaijani army positions on the border Tuesday, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Two Azerbaijani soldiers were injured in the attack, it noted.

Relations between the former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

During a 44-day conflict that started in late September last year, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and 300 settlements and villages that were illegally occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.

Azerbaijan not alone, will not be alone: Turkish FM

Yerevan would be the side losing on the case of any “provocation” on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said.

“Armenia once again violated the borders of Azerbaijan months ago and was defeated after these provocation attacks,” Çavuşoğlu said on Nov. 17, speaking at a joint press conference with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani.

Although Azerbaijan’s stance has always been “in favor of peace and the development of the region” after the agreement signed following the Karabakh war, the Armenian side continues to “provocate by constantly infiltrating Azerbaijani lands and by making border violations,” Çavuşoğlu stated.

“What they are doing is a terrorist attack on the territory of Azerbaijan,” the minister said.

However, Armenia should know that this attitude does not benefit anyone, he added.

“We will take steps together for the stability of the region and peace,” Çavuşoğlu said, emphasizing that Turkey is ready to take steps if Armenia is ready too.

“But it loses only with provocations,” the minister added.

7 soldiers killed on Armenian border: Azerbaijan

At least seven Azerbaijani soldiers were killed during combat operations on the Armenian border on Tuesday,
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry has said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said 10 other soldiers were also injured during the operations.

“The situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border has stabilized since the evening of November 16,” the statement read. “The provocation and military adventurism committed by Armenia on the state border completely failed ...”

Earlier, the ministry said Armenian forces carried out “large-scale provocations” against Azerbaijani army check posts in the Kalbajar and Lachin border regions.

In response, the Azerbaijani army launched an emergency operation, a statement said, adding that the movement of Armenian forces was blocked.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the border tensions with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.