Turkey and Moldova have agreed to speed up ties in order to create a strategic partnership and a free trade agreement, TurkishPresident Abdullah Gül said yesterday, after he met with Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti.

On Dec. 18 the Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov received the head of the General Plan and Principles Department of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Staff, Lieutenant General Alpaslan Erdogan.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic said in Belgrade on Wednesday that Serbia will not join NATO but it will be a reliable and responsible partner.