UPDATE - Azerbaijani president, Georgian defense minister discuss prospects for cooperation

ADDS DEFENSE MINISTERS MEETING; EDITS THROUGH

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on Monday discussed prospects for Baku-Tbilisi cooperation with Georgia's Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze in Baku.

“Development of friendly and brotherly relations between the two countries in a variety of fields including the military one was underlined at the meeting,” a statement by the Azerbaijani presidency read.

The statement said Aliyev recalled the visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to Azerbaijan on April 7, noting that “fruitful discussions to expand bilateral relations" were held during the visit.

Aliyev and Burchuladze “discussed prospects for cooperation between the two nations and regional security,” it added.

- Azerbaijan, Georgia sign defense deal

Burchuladze later met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov, who expressed his pleasure to see the Georgian defense minister and his delegation in Baku.

"Emphasizing that the meetings of the heads of state play an important role in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Minister of Defense noted that our relations have strengthened and developed in the military field as well as in many fields," a statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry read.

The statement said Hasanov informed Burchuladze of Armenia's "provocations" to escalate the situation on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border and in Karabakh, where a Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed.

It also said Burchuladze highlighted the importance of regularly holding such meetings and expanding relations between Baku and Tbilisi.

"The parties discussed in detail the provision of peace and security in the region, further expansion of cooperation in the fields of military, military-technical, military education, and other issues of mutual interest," it said.

It further noted that the meeting discussed prospects of bilateral and trilateral military cooperation between Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, adding that they also exchanged detailed views on increasing the intensity of joint exercises and working meetings.

An agreement on cooperation in the field of defense between the governments of Azerbaijan and Georgia was signed at the meeting, the statement also said.