AZERBAIJAN URGES IRAN TO HELP SETTLE CONFLICT IN KARABAKH

ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 19 2006

BAKU, April 19 (Itar-Tass) – Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev
urged Iran to help settle the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

During his talks with his Iranian counterpart Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar
on Wednesday, the Azerbaijani minister said, “We believe that Iran,
which names us its friendly country, must help us solve this problem.”

Mohammad-Najjar, who is currently on an official visit to Azerbaijan,
said, “Security in Azerbaijan means security in Iran. Our defence
capability is your defence capability. We’ve supported and will
support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.”

The talks focused on military cooperation between the two countries
and prospects for its development, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry’s
press service reported. The ministers also discussed regional security
and the Caspian Sea status.

Mohammad-Najjar said Iran has the right to use nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes “Iran continues its uranium enrichment activities.

This is the Iranian nation’s right. The forces, which don’t like Iran,
are seeking to deteriorate the situation, but they will fail.”

The Iranian minister named Azerbaijan “a friendly country”. He
stressed that Iran and Azerbaijan were cooperating in different fields,
including in the military sphere. “As part of my visit I’ll hold talks
on expanding military contacts with Azerbaijan although there is an
agreement on military cooperation between the two countries. If we
have problems, we’ ll solve them,” he said.

On Thursday, the Iranian minister will meet Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov and parliament speaker Oktai Asadov. He is
also expected to be received by Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev.