Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 26 2005

Nagorno Karabakh conflict focused in President Aliyev’s meetings in Iran

President Aliyev, who arrived in Tehran on Monday for an official
visit on the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami,
met with the chairman of the Iranian Islamic Council Assembly Haddad
Adil and chairman of the State Advisory Council, Iran’s former
President Ali Akbar Hashimi Rafsanjani on Tuesday.

The Nagorno Karabakh conflict, political and economic relations
between the two countries and inter-parliamentary ties were focused
during the meetings.

Afterwards, President Aliyev had a meeting with Iran’s high religious
leader Ali Khamnei, who remarkably spoke Azeri. The parties exchanged
views on the socio-political situation in the region.

Khamnei stated that certain countries are opposed to the
Iran-Azerbaijan friendship. `We need to always remain friendly
neighboring nations regardless of what happens around the world.’

President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan, as a sovereign country,
pursues an independent policy. Developing relations with Iran meets
Azerbaijan’s interests and no force may impede this, he said.

On the same day, President Aliyev visited the Khodro automobile
plant. The leadership of the plant, which produces small and large
buses along with Mercedes and Peugeot cars, presented a `Samand’ car
to the Azerbaijani President.
Aliyev visited the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeyni. He also met with
Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani and visited the Azerbaijani
embassy in Iran.