Azerbaijan, Iran relations continue to grow: ambassador
By Sara Rajabova
Iran`s ambassador to Azerbaijan highlighted the importance of Azerbaijani President's recent visit to Tehran.
"Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s visit to Iran is of great importance in terms developing bilateral relations and regional cooperation," Mohsen Pak Ayeen told a press conference on April 14.
He noted the significance of the Azerbaijani President`s meetings with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei.
President Aliyev visited Iran on April 9 and held talks with Iranian officials on a range of issues.
Pak Ayeen emphasized the significance of the documents signed by the two countries during the visit.
He said one of these documents was the agreement on the construction and exploitation of the Ordubad and Marazad hydro-electric power stations.
Pak Ayeen said constructing the power stations would help the two countries meet their power demands and ensure the effective use of the Araz River waters.
He also praised the role of the intergovernmental commission in developing Iran-Azerbaijan relations, saying, "The joint intergovernmental commission has been inactive for a long time. The appointment of new Iranian and Azerbaijani co-chairmen will change the work of the commission and intensify its activity."
Pak Ayeen went on to say that cooperation in the area of transit, energy, oil, gas, tourism, and other fields will be strengthened once the joint commission begins to work.
He also pointed to the importance of bilateral cooperation in terms of ensuring regional security.
Speaking about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he said President Rouhani underlined the necessity of solving the dispute in compliance with international law and justice.
Pak Ayeen added that a decision was made to strengthen the relations between the two countries' media outlets and establish media committees.
The Iranian ambassador also said Azerbaijani Communications and High Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov will visit Iran in the next two months.
He said during the Azerbaijani minister's visit to Iran, the parties will discuss the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the field of communication and information technologies.
Pak Ayeen further noted that the Iranian side is ready to open the Aslanduz-Horadiz border crossing point on the Azerbaijani-Iranian border, adding that they have prepared the necessary infrastructure for opening the border crossing point, and doing so is beneficial for both sides.
"We hope that Azerbaijan, in turn, will also launch works on opening the border crossing point on its side," Pak Ayeen added.
Earlier, head of Azerbaijani State Customs Committee (SCC) Aydin Aliyev said the intensification of works on resuming activities at the Aslanduz-Horadiz border crossing point will contribute toincreasing trade between Azerbaijan and Iran.
There are six border checkpoints on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border, five of which are in operation (Julfa, Shahtahtski, Astara, Bilasuvar and Imishli checkpoints), while the Horadiz customs point has not been operating for a long time.