BAKU (Sputnik) – Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz on Saturday backed Azerbaijan in its renewed struggle with Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
"Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov and Turkey’s Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, as well as the chief of [Turkish] General Staff Hulusi Akar held a phone conversation and discussed the current situation. The Turkish side expressed support for Azerbaijan," Azeri Defense Ministry spokesman Vagif Dargakhly told RIA Novosti.
Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Armenian-held area flared overnight after heavy fighting was reported on the line of contact. Both nations accused each other of starting the fighting in violation of the 1994 ceasefire.
