Baku, Tehran focus on cooperation in humanitarian sphere
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani and Iranian officials have discussed the two countries’ cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.
Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee on Deals of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons received Mohsen Pak Ayeen, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan on December 9, the Committee said.
The sides mulled the results of Hasanov’s recent Tehran visit at the invitation of Ali Rabiee, Iran’s Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, the meetings with officials and heads of a number of international humanitarian organizations conducted within the framework of this visit.
Hasanov thanked the Iranian ambassador for the warm welcome and the high level organization of this visit and meetings, saying that these shows the developing friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran.
He also said the sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest during the meetings, adding that the meetings with the First Vice-President of Iran Eshaq Jahangiri, Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Mahmoud Vaezi and Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare of Iran Rabiee were especially fruitful.
Hasanov expressed satisfaction with the development of cooperation between the countries in all fields and stressed the importance of expanding ties not only in economic but also in the humanitarian sphere.
Pak Ayeen, for his part, thanked Hasanov for the warm welcome and said work on cooperation issues, which were discussed during this visit, in the field of education, social and humanitarian spheres, social security, joint investment, labor issues, the problems of refugees and internally displaced persons has already begun.
Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.
Tehran has in recent years focused seriously on development of ties with neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan which enjoys various commonalties with Iran in religious, historical and cultural fields.