Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The close cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran has been contributing to the expansion of all-out ties of the two countries.

Baku and Tehran have stressed a need for combating the terrorism and extremism, which can be considered as the most serious potential threats to the region.

The officials underscored that the security of Iran and Azerbaijan were interrelated and the two sides should cooperate to deal with terrorism and extremism.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif exchanged views on issues related to regional security, fight against terrorism and cooperation in the framework of international organizations during a meeting in Baku on February 16.

Zarif paid a two-day visit to Azerbaijan to discuss measures to broaden cooperation and reach a good understanding for the further development of ties.

President Aliyev said relations between the two countries cover all spheres, stressing the importance of mutual meetings at various levels to further strengthen relations.

He expressed confidence that the visit of Iranian delegation led by foreign minister to Azerbaijan will be fruitful and serve to further expansion of ties.

The sides also discussed the prospects of development of relations in the fields of energy, transport, modern technology, agriculture and others.

The issues related to combating terrorism were also main topic discussion with Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister with his Iranian counterpart.

Azerbaijan, which has been suffering from the Armenian terrorism and extremism over the years have actively cooperating with other countries against these threats.

The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was another topic of discussions of the Azerbaijani and Iranian foreign policy heads.

“I briefed the Iranian foreign minister about the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” said Mammadyarov, noting that no progress is observed in this regard.

Zarif’s visit coincided with the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs that is tasked to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are on a visit to Baku. We will make a statement following the meeting with the co-chairs,” said Mammadyarov.

He noted the necessity of starting the work on a great peace agreement on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mammadyarov said OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have already understood that it is time to start working on the great peace agreement, adding that the heads of the co-chairing countries also support this.

“There shouldn’t be any Armenian soldiers in Lachin, Kalbajar. It is necessary to start serious negotiations on restoring peace in the region,” said Mammadyarov said that the main problem is related to the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

He went on to say that the co-chairs should urge Armenia to do that and Armenia should withdraw its troops from Azerbaijani territories.

Mammadyarov also reminded that the two Azerbaijanis taken hostage by Armenians in occupied Kalbajar region should be handed over to Azerbaijan, noting that Baku has raised this issue in all international organizations.

Zarif, for his part, said Iran, as a neighboring country, is ready to assist in resolving the conflict which is a great threat to peace and stability of the whole region.

Tehran has repeatedly offered to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mammadyarov further added that Azerbaijan and Iran are bound together by historical roots and the relations between the two brotherly nations should continue.

He informed that Baku will host the bilateral meeting on the status of the Caspian Sea. The meeting will be held as part of the five-party meeting of the expert group on determining the status of the sea.

Zarif, for his part, said that expanding relations with neighboring countries is the main priority of Iran’s foreign policy. “The relations with Azerbaijan are of particular importance for Iran. We should strengthen the relations between our peoples and make efforts to restore security in the region,” said Zarif.

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.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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