Ambassador: Tehran-Baku talks move on right track
By Laman Ismayilova
Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Javad Jahangirzadeh has called for taking serious steps aimed at broadening economic ties between Tehran and Baku.
"We must take serious measures to expand economic ties. The noteworthy point is that the talks between the two countries are progressing very well on the right track," the envoy told Trend.
Actions taken in 2016, which will proceed in 2017, are absolutely capable of paving the ground for the further expansion of cooperation between the two neighboring countries, Jahangirzadeh stated.
He described transportation as the most important field for cooperation between the two countries, saying there is no obstacle to deepening ties.
"The sides must do their best to rule out the possibility of any problem in terms of diplomatic and political issues," noted the envoy.
An ambitious project for creating the North-South transportation corridor has been in spotlight as a key topic in talks over the past several years as the prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran in transportation sphere seem very promising.
Azerbaijan and Iran are participants of the large and perspective North-South transportation corridor, which is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia.
Iran and Azerbaijan have launched construction works aimed at connecting their railway systems as two major participants of the transportation corridor. At the initial stage, it is planned to transport 5 million tons of cargo via the North-South corridor per year and to increase the figure to over 10 million tons in the future.
Jahangirzadeh further touched open plans for cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea, saying several talks have already been held in this regard.
"In the meantime, an Iranian delegation is due in Baku on November 25 to discuss cooperation in transportation through railways and the Caspian Sea," the ambassador announced.
Saying that there are wide opportunities for cooperation on the endoreic basin, he urged for developing a step by step action plan in this regard.
The envoy stated that the sides are capable of reaching proper agreements on cooperation for getting the best use of the existing opportunities on the Caspian Sea, including shipping issues.
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