Azerbaijan's defense ministry announced Monday the start of joint air force exercises with Turkey, named TurAz Qartali 2022. 

"The opening ceremony of the 'TurAz Qartali - 2022' Joint Flight-Tactical Exercises was held on September 5. The event was attended by Azerbaijani and Turkish servicemen, the head of the Executive Power of [Azerbaijan's] Ganja city, Niyazi Bayramov, and other guests," the ministry said in a statement.    

The countries' aviation forces will be embarking on a set of tasks, including planning joint activities, studying interaction and combat interoperability. They will also be conducting search and rescue operations, according to the ministry. 

The two Caucasian countries regularly hold joint military exercises. 

Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to further collaborate on peace treaty work

On August 31, EU Council President Charles Michel said that Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to step up efforts in advancing the conclusion of a peace treaty.

Michel held a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels.

"Today we agree to step up substantive work to advance on the peace treaty governing inter-state relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and tasked the Foreign Ministers to meet within one month to work on draft texts," the statement said.

The EU is determined to support the establishment of long-term sustainable peace in the South Caucasus and will continue to closely work with all parties on reaching this goal, Michel added.

The leaders agreed to meet in the same format again by the end of November.