Iranian, Azerbaijani defense ministers survey

IRNA, Iran
December 22, 2004 Wednesday 8:47 PM EST

Tehran, December 22 — Defense ministers of Iran and Azerbaijan
met and conferred here on Wednesday evening about regional armies`
cooperation to boost joint security in Caucasus region.

Islamic Republic of Iran`s Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani
referred to the two nations` shared historical, religious and cultural
backgrounds during the meeting, considering them the “huge capital
that can serve to boost bilateral ties.”

He referred to the deep bilateral understanding and mutual trust,
as well as comprehensive defense and security consultations, as main
prerequisites for establishment of a comprehensive bilateral defense
cooperation.

Shamkhani added, “Joint efforts aimed at boosting regional peace
and stability is the main axis for Iran-Azerbaijan comprehensive
cooperation.”

The Iranian defense minister said, “Presently terrorism, narcotic
drugs and arms smuggling, organized crime, and vast presence of foreign
forces are biggest threats against regional security and such threats
cannot be eliminated, except through effective regional cooperation
and constant consultative interactions.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, stressing that the Islamic Republic of
Iran considers the Caspian Sea the “sea of peace and friendship”,
Shamkhani added, “This region`s security is in need of collective
cooperation and mutual trust.”

Elaborating on Iran`s stand about Karabakh conflict, Rear Admiral
Shamkhani said, “Iran favors peaceful resolution of the Karabakh
conflict and is ready to continue its mediation efforts in that
regard.”

He referred to President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami`s state visit of
Azerbaijan and President Elham Aliev`s upcoming state visit to Tehran
as beset signs of both countries` officials` strong determination to
take advantage of all opportunities at service of boosting ties.”

The Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiev, too, appreciated his country`s
ever-improving ties and cooperation with Iran and considered the
Iranian defense minister`s visit of Baku “a very effective move in
further strengthening bilateral ties.”

He emphasized, “Late Azeri President Geidar Aliev`s 2002 state visit of
Iran opened a new chapter in Tehran-Baku relations, agreeing with his
Iranian counterpart on the point that shared historical and cultural
backgrounds of the two nations serve as an excellent foundation for
boosting comprehensive ties.”

Abiev added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran was among the first
countries in the world to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan
Republic and the Azeri nation will never forget that.”

The Azerbaijan Republic is situated in eastern Transcaucasia, on the
western coast of the Caspian Sea.

To the South it borders Iran, to the West Armenia, to the North-West
Georgia, and to the North the Republic of Dagestan, in Russia.

The Nakhichevan autonomous Republic is a part of Azerbaijan, although
it is separated form the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory.

Azerbaijan also includes the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast,
which is largely populated by the Armenians, but does not legally
constitute a part of Armenia.