Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu paid a short visit to Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan, Zaman reports.

On September 1, he held a meeting with the local officials and has a phone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. The sides discussed the recently increased tension in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

Talking to Azeri journalists, the Turkish FM restated Ankara is for peace in the region and will do its best for it. However, establishing peace requires an end to the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, he said.

The Turkish FM pointed out that, after visiting Kars and Igdir, he considered it his duty to visit his Azeri brothers in Nakhichevan. Pointing out Azerbaijan’s important role for Turkey, the Turkish FM said that Turks and Azerbaijanis are linked by bonds of spirit, blood and language. “We will always be beside Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan,” the Turkish FM said. “Azerbaijanis’ problems are Turkey’s problems, and we will always support our brothers,” Davutoglu said.

On Septembe 1, the Turkish FM visited the Turkish regions bordering Armenia. Talking to the local population, he accused the Armenian side of the closed border, retelling a twice-told tale about “occupied” lands of Azerbaijan.