March 10, 2011 - 11:00 AMT
Turkey continues arming Azerbaijan

Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that the Turkey–Azerbaijan cooperation in the defense sector needs to be strengthened.

“Turkey is ready to meet Azerbaijan’s needs in the defense industry products and military uniforms on most favorable terms, as well as participate in joint production and transfer of the technology,” Gonul said.

"Today, defense cooperation between our countries has a special room in bilateral relations. Relevant companies hold meetings and negotiations to cement this collaboration," Gonul said, adding that an agreement on strategic partnership and mutual assistance between Azerbaijan and Turkey signed on August 16, 2010 “will significantly contribute to the development of the cooperation in defense industry.”

Azerbaijan registered in 1998 the office of ASELSAN Turkish company, whose main activity is marketing, sales and after-sales service of high-tech communications systems, which are products of the parent company. Azerbaijan and Turkey also signed an agreement on joint production of jet missiles in the framework of the IDEX -2011 international exhibition held in Abu Dhabi in February. Based on the document, the Azerbaijani Defense Industry Ministry and the Turkey’s ROKETSAN start producing 107 - and 120-millimeter rocket-propelled missiles, Trend reports.