On September 15, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov received a delegation led by Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Türkiye, Army General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu. The Turkish delegation is visiting Azerbaijan at the invitation of the First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told AZERTAC.
The Turkish guests first visited the graves of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and prominent ophthalmologist and academician Zarifa Aliyeva in the Alley of Honors, as well as the Alley of Martyrs. They laid wreaths and flowers, paying tribute to their memory.
The Chiefs of the General Staff of both countries then visited the Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery, laid wreaths at the monument, and honored the memory of the soldiers of the Caucasus Islamic Army who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Baku.
At the official welcoming ceremony at the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, the Chiefs of the General Staff passed along the guard of honor, and the national anthems of both countries were performed. In accordance with protocol, the Turkish guest signed the “Book of Honor.”
During the meeting at the Ministry of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov welcomed the delegation and expressed satisfaction at their visit to Azerbaijan. The Minister noted that Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, grounded in deep historical roots, shared values, and mutual trust, have further strengthened thanks to the friendly ties between the heads of state of the two fraternal countries. He highly appreciated Türkiye’s consistent support for Azerbaijan and emphasized the historical significance of September 15, the day of Baku’s liberation from the Dashnak-Bolshevik occupation.
The Defense Minister also congratulated Army General Bayraktaroğlu on his appointment as Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces. In response, Army General Bayraktaroğlu expressed gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality, noting that such visits contribute positively to the development of relations based on mutual trust and friendship.
During the visit, a meeting between the Chiefs of the General Staff of both countries was held. Colonel General Karim Valiyev highlighted innovations implemented in the Azerbaijan Army and emphasized the opportunities to further develop military cooperation between the two countries.
The sides conducted a detailed exchange of views on the current state and potential expansion of cooperation in military, military-technical, military-educational, and other spheres, and discussed additional issues of mutual interest. Discussions also focused on new prospects for military cooperation, regional security, and other topics of shared concern.
