'Azeri army capable of repelling aggression', Turkish general says

Azeri defense minister colonel-general Safar Abiyev received a delegation led by the chief of the senior operative department of Turkish Armed Forces general staff colonel-general Koksal Karabay last week.

Gen. Abiyev said with some satisfaction that comprehensive cooperation between Azeri and Turkish armed forces is steadily developing. He indicated that this year Azerbaijan would host Nato's "Cooperative Determination-2001" military training and that Turkish colleagues are helping Azerbaijan to make necessary arrangements. He added that Azeri-Turkish relations encompass almost all army construction spheres.

Gen. Karabay said, in response, that he had visited Azerbaijan 5 years ago and is now amazed to see how much has changed. "Azerbaijan's armed forces are capable of repelling any aggression", the Turkish general said. "The cooperation we have established represents assistance from one fraternal nation to another".

Safar Abiyev said Baku Higher Military Commend School would mark its first graduation on August 25 and invited the chief of the Turkish armed forces general staff, army general Hussein Kyvrykoglu to take part.

The meeting was also attended by Turkish military attache in Azerbaijan major-general Zeki Durlanik, according to the MOD.

The delegation was also received by President Aliyev. The Turkish general said military cooperation between the two countries has been very productive. Azerbaijan has its own army today, a military school meeting international standards, a military academy training qualified military specialists, a national security academy. He said infantry, artillery and tank schools would be opened in Azerbaijan as well.

In response, the President thanked the delegation saying that the senior operative department of Turkish Armed Forces general staff had contributed a great deal to the formation and development of the Azerbaijan armed forces.