Baku: Azerbaijan and Slovakia are exploring avenues for strengthening their military-technical cooperation. On October 9, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, met with a Slovak delegation led by General Daniel Zmeko, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, as reported by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense to AZERTAC.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Slovak delegation commenced their visit by paying respects at the graves of Azerbaijan’s National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, and the renowned ophthalmologist and academician, Zarifa Aliyeva, at the Alley of Honors. They laid wreaths and flowers in tribute. This was followed by a visit to Victory Park, where they laid a wreath at the Victory Monument.

The official welcoming ceremony at the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army included a ceremonial passage before the guard of honor, performances of the national anthems of both countries, and the signing of the Book of Honor in accordance with protocol.

During the meeting, Colonel General Valiyev expressed his satisfaction at hosting the Slovak delegation in Azerbaijan. He highlighted the significant potential for advancing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Slovakia in military, military-technical, and military-educational domains. General Zmeko conveyed his gratitude for the hospitality received and underscored the importance of such visits in strengthening military relations and contributing to the development of the armed forces of both nations.

The meeting featured a comprehensive discussion on various defense-related topics of mutual interest between Azerbaijan and Slovakia. The delegation also visited the Cybersecurity Center to observe efforts to secure modern weapon systems and IT equipment within the Azerbaijan Army. They received detailed information on AI-powered cybersecurity tools.

Further, the Slovak delegation visited the Air Force Combat Control Center, where they were briefed on the center’s organizational structure and operational principles. The visit concluded with a tour of an Azerbaijan Air Force military unit, where the guests were provided with insights into the unit’s operations and technical capabilities.