IRAN HOLDS UP TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
April 19 2006

Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar of the Islamic Republic of
Iran has arrived in Baku on an official visit, 19 April.

After welcoming ceremony, Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Safar Abiyev
met with Mostafa Mohammad Najjar.

Official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Iran in January 2005 and
working visit of President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Nakhchivan in
December last year have given new impetus to expansion of relations,
Mr. Abiyev said. ‘Current visit will serve all-round development of
cooperation between two countries’, he emphasized.

Then, dwelling on the military-political situation on the South
Caucasus, Azeri Defense Minister said the Armenian-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the major factor of tension in region,
which impedes common development. The policy pursued by Armenian
leaders finally will wipe out Armenia. ‘We consider Iran which calls
Azerbaijan fraternal, should render assistance in fair solution of
the problem. Common roots of two nations give season to tell that’,
Abiyev stressed.

Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said ‘our culture and religious unanimity
should always be in progress. There large opportunities for expansion
of our links. Safety of Azerbaijan is our safety’.

Regarding the Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
the Iranian minister said Iran stands ready to help Azerbaijan in
settlement of the conflict. “We have always supported territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and will further do it’, he underlined.

In the meeting, discussed were issues of prospects of
Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, regional security, legal status of
the Caspian and other questions.