Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Jan 26 2005

IRAN, AZERBAIJAN: JOINT STATEMENT ISSUED
[January 26, 2005, 23:20:34]

As is known, on the invitation of President of the Islamic Republic
of Iran Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has been on an official visit to Iran with a
representative delegation on January 24-26, 2005.

During the visit, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in a friendly
atmosphere has carried out discussions and talks with the President
of Iran Mr. Khatami, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic republic of
Iran Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the Chairman of the State Advisory
Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Akbar Hashimi Rafsanjani,
Chairman of Majlis of the Islamic Council Haddad Adel, foreign
minister Kamal Kharrazi, and also visited the city of Tabriz.

As a result of the talks and discussions, the sides have issued joint
statement, whereby, it is emphasized their readiness to take further
steps to strengthen their cooperation based on friendly ties,
equality and mutual respect. In the statement, Iran and the Republic
of Azerbaijan also reaffirmed their support for the principles of the
United Nations Charter, including respect for the sovereignty and
independence of countries and other rights recognized by
international law.

The statement also reiterated the common intent to establish direct
ties between economic institutions within their respective
jurisdictions in addition to further consolidating bilateral ties,
particularly, in the political sphere, and intensifying cooperation
in the campaign against international terrorism, drug trafficking and
organized crime. The statement also reflects the shared views of Iran
and Azerbaijan regarding the Nagorny Karabakh conflict for
implementation of related Resolutions of the United Nations and
Organization of the Islamic Conference. It stressed expansion of
mutual ties in various economic fields, boosting of their trade
volume, with special emphasis on oil and petrochemicals, small
industries, industrial and agricultural machineries, and in their
transport and communications sectors. It also stressed promotion of
cultural, artistic, media, scientific, educational, health and social
cooperation.

The two states also made it clear in their statement that they would
take measures necessary to defend the Caspian’s status as a “sea of
peace and stability,” and affirmed the need to continue their
constructive talks aimed at establishing a legal regime for the
Caspian Sea acceptable to all five littoral states.