Türkiye sends bill to parliament to extend mission in Azerbaijan UPDATED

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a request to the parliament to extend the mission of the Turkish armed forces in Azerbaijan as part of the joint Russian-Turkish monitoring center for a year.

The mandate for sending military personnel, if it is approved by legislators, will be extended for a year from November 17, 2023, according to TRT TV channel.

According to the document sent by President Erdogan, “the joint center, where the Turkish soldiers serve, successfully continues its activity, and Türkiye is making its contribution to the regional security and strengthening trust between the sides”.

The Turkish servicemen’s presence in Azerbaijan is also stipulated by “the obligations arising from the provisions of the Agreement on Strategic Partnership and Mutual Assistance between Türkiye and Azerbaijan dated August 16, 2010” and is necessary “to monitor compliance with the ceasefire regime, prevent violations and ensure peace and stability in the region”.

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The term of stay of Turkish servicemen serving in the joint Turkish-Russian monitoring center in the Agdam district of Azerbaijan is planned to be extended for another year.

The bill signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be sent to Parliament this week. The bill will then be discussed in Türkiye's Grand National Assembly, diplomatic sources in Ankara said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

If the legislative body agrees to extend the stay of Turkish servicemen in Azerbaijan for another year, the decision will come into force after publication in the official press.

To recap, on November 17, 2020, the Turkish Grand National Assembly authorized the Turkish Armed Forces to send military personnel to Azerbaijan for one year.

In November 2021 and 2022, the term of stay of Turkish servicemen in Azerbaijan was extended for another year.

The memorandum on the establishment of a joint ceasefire control center in Azerbaijan was signed between Türkiye and Russia on November 11, 2020.

Following Azerbaijan's liberation of its lands from Armenian occupation, an agreement was reached to establish a monitoring center in the liberated lands. The monitoring is being carried out by Turkish and Russian military representatives.

The protection of the Turkish-Russian Joint Monitoring Center is carried out by the Azerbaijani army.