10-06-2009 14:58:49
Azerbaijani officials have blamed Iran for interfering in the country`s domestic affairs.Commenting on Iran`s strongly-worded statements opposing Israeli President Shimon Peres` visit to Baku scheduled for late in June, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan does not interfere with other countries` internal affairs and will not allow other states to do so. He added that his country is pursuing a foreign policy in line with its national interests.
Earlier, the news on the Israeli leader`s expected visit drew fire from Tehran. Hassan Firouzabadi, Iran`s chief-of-staff of the armed forces, labeled the visit as disrespectful to the Islamic world and warned it could cause problems with Azerbaijan. Tehran also urged that the Israeli embassies in Baku and Ashgabat are to be shut down.
"Iran`s latest statements raise questions," Mammadyarov said. "It is disappointing that such statements are also coming from its military forces."
The minister pointed out that the Azerbaijani side has never discussed visits by the leaders of arch-foe Armenia to Iran and has never expressed its position to that end.
Ali Hasanov, head of the Presidential Administration socio-political department, pointed out, while commenting on Iran`s statements that Tehran, which has established multilateral relations with aggressor Armenia, has no right to criticize Azerbaijan.
"We don`t interfere with Iran`s domestic and foreign policy. Accordingly, we don`t want any other state to meddle in our policy and try to create obstacles for our activities. In general, the expression of views by any country on the steps taken by another sovereign country is inadmissible," he said.
Meanwhile, Avigdor Lieberman, Israel`s Foreign Minister, announced the date of the Israeli leader`s visit. President Peres is due to arrive in Baku on June 28, the Russian ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Lieberman as saying in Moscow. The minister said Peres would head a broad delegation of officials to be accompanied by a large number of Israeli businessmen.
According to Lieberman, the visit once again confirms that Baku and Tel-Aviv are maintaining high-level relations. "Israel-Azerbaijan relations are a result of productive dialog and could set an example for forging ties with other Islamic countries."
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