BAKU. June 10 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov and Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani met in Baku on Monday to discuss bilateral military cooperation.
Hasanov said at the meeting that Baku and Tbilisi were planning to hold 21 joint events in the defense sector in 2024, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
He also invited the Georgian side to take part in the ADEX international defense show in Azerbaijan in September 2024.
"The ministers highlighted the importance of intensifying joint military exercises at the meeting. [...]. They also discussed the prospects for military cooperation and exchanged views on regional security matters," the ministry said.
Speaking about the situation around rebuilding Azerbaijan's liberated territories (Karabakh and East Zangezur), Hasanov underlined the mine problem. Over 12% of Azerbaijan's territory is contaminated with mines planted by Armenia, he said. Since November 2020, 361 Azerbaijani civilians and troops have fallen victim to mines, of which 68 were killed.