Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 15
By Orkhan Quluzade - Trend:
Turkey, which is contiguous to conflict areas in the Balkans, Caucasus and the Middle East, stands up for peacefully settling conflicts and supports the principle of the countries' territorial integrity, said Ismet Yilmaz, Turkey's national defense minister, in an exclusive interview with Trend Jan. 15.
He said that if the parties fail to resolve a conflict peacefully, Turkey will support the international community's efforts to resolve it.
The minister added that Ankara supports bilateral and multilateral relations with all countries on the basis of friendship and cooperation.
He also said Ankara's defense policy is based on the "Peace at home, peace in the world" doctrine, adding that its author is the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
