Iranian, Azeri foreign ministers discuss ties, Caspian Sea, Karabakh
IRNA web site
31 Jul 04
Tehran, 31 July: Iran and Azerbaijan discussed here Saturday 31 July
possible avenues for bolstering of bilateral ties in various fields.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, in a meeting with his
Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, expressed his country’s
determination and interest in further expanding ties with Iran.
He stressed the importance of the upcoming visit by President Mohammad
Khatami to Azerbaijan and said the visit would be a major stride
towards expansion of mutual relations.
The Azeri minister expressed satisfaction with growing economic
relations between the two sides and hoped new economic agreements
would be signed during President Khatami’s visit to Baku.
Mammadyarov assessed talks on legal regime of the Caspian Sea as
positive, adding: The Caspian Sea should be the sea of friendship and
cooperation among the littoral states.
He hoped littoral states would reach a consensus on the legal regime
of the sea.
He voiced Azerbaijan’s interest in joining the North-South Corridor
and stressed the role Baku plays in materializing the projects to this
effect.
Kharrazi, for his part, said Iran attaches special importance to
expansion of ties with neighbouring states, adding: President
Khatami’s future visit to Azerbaijan would be an indication of high
level of ties between the two countries.
“Tehran regards as important its ties with Azerbaijan Republic
particularly both from economic and geopolitical points of view and
considers the common borders as borders of friendship and peace,” he
said.
He outlined the background of relations between Tehran and Baku since
the independence of Azerbaijan, saying: “Iran attaches great
importance to a powerful Azerbaijan which safeguards national and
regional interests in this sensitive and strategic region.”
He urged the two sides to further try to achieve high level of
cooperation.
Kharrazi termed trade and economic cooperation between the two
countries as “progressive” and added: “Iran and Azerbaijan have
launched good cooperation in various fields including transfer of
electricity, development affairs, road-building, construction of power
plants and energy. “Such cooperation can further expand.”
He said Iran regards strengthening of popular bonds as very important
and underlined the importance of continued supportive policies and
easing travels of Iranian and Azeri nationals within framework of
policy to further expand mutual transactions.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional issues, including
Karabakh.
Kharrazi stressed that, as a friendly country, the Islamic Republic of
Iran is ready to contribute to settlement of Karabakh dispute.
He said: Tehran pursues settlement of Karabakh dispute within
framework of the charters of the UN and of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC).
The Azeri foreign minister arrived here early Saturday on a two-day
official visit to discuss bilateral ties.
Azerbaijan’s special envoy for Caspian Sea affairs accompanies
Mammadyarov in the current visit.
Mammadyarov is also to visit the northeastern city of Tabriz. He is to
return to Baku through the autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress