IRANIAN MINISTER ON TIES WITH USA, AZERBAIJAN, KARABAKH CONFLICT, CASPIAN STATUS

ANS TV
Feb 22 2009
Azerbaijan

Iranian Foreign Minister Mahuchehr Mottaki has expressed the hope
that correct steps will be taken in ties with the USA.

Asked if Washington may reconcile itself to Iran’s nuclear programme
in an interview with Azerbaijani commercial TV station ANS on 22
February, Mottaki said in Persian with superimposed Azeri translation:
"I generally support the inspection of work to be done. I mean not
only the nuclear programme issue, but all spheres. Talks around the
nuclear programme have already ended…We hope that, God willing,
correct steps will be taken in the sphere of bilateral ties between
the two countries".

Asked about developing Armenian-Iranian relations against the
background of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem, Mottaki said that Iran
was trying to develop its ties with neighbouring countries.

"These high-level relations may be used in the resolution of the
current problems. We support Azerbaijan’s position and territorial
integrity. Tehran is also behind Baku from the political standpoint. We
say this in all talks with the Azerbaijani leadership. Iran is ready
to render assistance to Azerbaijan from every standpoint to make sure
that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is resolved," Mottaki said.

Commenting on Iran’s mediatory mission, Mottaki said that "we think
that the current situation is unacceptable and we should therefore
look for a way out".

Asked about whether there had been any progress on the status of
the Caspian Sea, Mottaki noted that "the two countries have their
delegations, which are discussing the legal status of the Caspian. The
discussions are going successfully. The sides are trying to reach a
fair agreement on condition that the rights of the two countries [Iran
and Azerbaijan] are protected. We think that the discussions should be
conducted to the best level. During [Azerbaijani Foreign Minister]
Elmar Mammadyarov’s visit to Tehran, we agreed to continue the
discussions. We hope that the discussions will end at the best level
in the near future to make sure that all countries use opportunities
in the Caspian, first of all energy resources, successfully".

Speaking about programming on Iran’s Sahar TV channel, which an ANS
correspondent accused of trying to spoil Azeri-Iranian ties, Mottaki
said "there is such a common opinion in all political, economic and
cultural spheres, as well as media outlets in the Islamic Republic
of Iran that Iranian-Azerbaijani ties should further deepen. All
are interested in the development of friendship between these two
countries. If we meet those who run against these intentions, then
I would advise them to return to the right path".

Mottaki added that Azerbaijan and Iran should make efforts to boost
ties in the media sphere.

Mottaki described Azerbaijani-Iranian ties in the political sphere
as being at the highest level, saying that the interests of the two
countries coincided. He praised economic and cultural ties as well.

Mottaki said that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Iran
in March was aimed at conducting bilateral talks and attending an
Economic Cooperation Organization summit in Tehran.