Turkish Troops Arrive in Azerbaijan to Oversee Ceasefire

A contingent of the Turkish Armed Forces tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan arrived in the country. The troops will begin their duty at the Joint Turkish-Russian Center in the Karabakh region in January.

In a statement carried by Anadolu Agency, Turkish Minister of defense Kholosi Akar said, "Our soldiers went to Azerbaijan in preparation for performing their duties in the joint center with Russia to monitor compliance with the ceasefire in the Karabakh region."

CNN Turk reported that up to 35 officers and non-commissioned officers led by a brigadier general of Ankara's ground forces were dispatched to the war ridden state.

The Joint Turkish-Russian Center will be located in Aghdam, a recently liberated territory of Azerbaijan, upon the decision of the government and is expected to come online in the first week of January.

The term of service of the Turkish contingent in the center is one year, however, service can be extended when deemed necessary.

The number of observers will reportedly be increased to 60 in the following weeks once the construction of the center is completed.

The center will initially operate in a prefabricated building and will be relocated to the main service center after it is commissioned. The center will reportedly monitor the fulfillment of obligations by Armenia and Azerbaijan taken under a tripartite ceasefire statement signed by these two countries and Russia on November 9, 2020.