Baku `interested in stable Iran`
Azerbaijan is interested in the restoration of
stability in neighboring Iran, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
said during a visit to Japan last week.
Mammadyarov told the Kyodo news agency that Baku was interested in "the Iranian people`s adopting a concerted decision with regard to the current situation" to re-establish stability in the country.
"It is important for neighboring Azerbaijan that Iran be a stable and prosperous country," the minister said.
Unrest in Iran erupted after the June 12 presidential elections. The incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was announced as winner, having gained 63 percent of the vote, while his main rival, ethnic Azerbaijani reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi, claimed 34 percent of the popular vote. After the official tallies were announced, Mousavi`s supporters challenging the election outcome took to the streets, clashing with law enforcers. As a result of the police dispersals of the protesters, about 20 people have been reportedly killed and over a hundred injured so far, and 450 people arrested.
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has expressed hope that the situation in Iran would not reach a boiling point and confidence that the outstanding problems would be resolved on the democratic basis and in peace.
"Iran is a neighboring country, and we support a positive solution to the developments taking place there," Azimov said. "We believe that, on the basis of restoring peace talks among various groups of the Iranian society, the political tension will find its solution in the coming days."
At the same time, the deputy minister believes that, in case a crisis does occur in Iran, this will definitely have an impact on Azerbaijan.
Iran is home to about 30 million Azerbaijanis, or about 40% of the country`s population of 70 million, which is predominantly Persian.
Mammadyarov told the Kyodo news agency that Baku was interested in "the Iranian people`s adopting a concerted decision with regard to the current situation" to re-establish stability in the country.
"It is important for neighboring Azerbaijan that Iran be a stable and prosperous country," the minister said.
Unrest in Iran erupted after the June 12 presidential elections. The incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was announced as winner, having gained 63 percent of the vote, while his main rival, ethnic Azerbaijani reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi, claimed 34 percent of the popular vote. After the official tallies were announced, Mousavi`s supporters challenging the election outcome took to the streets, clashing with law enforcers. As a result of the police dispersals of the protesters, about 20 people have been reportedly killed and over a hundred injured so far, and 450 people arrested.
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has expressed hope that the situation in Iran would not reach a boiling point and confidence that the outstanding problems would be resolved on the democratic basis and in peace.
"Iran is a neighboring country, and we support a positive solution to the developments taking place there," Azimov said. "We believe that, on the basis of restoring peace talks among various groups of the Iranian society, the political tension will find its solution in the coming days."
At the same time, the deputy minister believes that, in case a crisis does occur in Iran, this will definitely have an impact on Azerbaijan.
Iran is home to about 30 million Azerbaijanis, or about 40% of the country`s population of 70 million, which is predominantly Persian.
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