Baku, Tehran map out economic co-op
Baku and Tehran
discussed a wide range of issues including economic cooperation and
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
during Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s visit to
Iran on Monday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who hosted his counterpart, told a news conference following the talks that the sides had agreed to create a railway link between Astara, Iran and Astara, Azerbaijan and to further extend this line to the Persian Gulf as part of the North-South project.
Mottaki said discussions also covered cooperation in power deliveries and Iran’s gaining access to CIS power supply markets through Azerbaijani territory.
The two countries are presently implementing a project aiming to increase the volume of electricity supplies to 700 MWt per year.
The Iranian minister said Iran-Azerbaijan annual trade turnover currently stands at $600 million but the two countries are seeking to bring the figure to $1 billion, adding that there is vast potential to reach that goal.
Mammadyarov stressed the importance of cultural cooperation, saying that Days of Azerbaijani Culture will be held in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
Further, the Azerbaijani minister noted that Iran is a stable country in the region, and this stability is of tremendous importance for the ongoing talks on settling the Upper Garabagh conflict.
"The sooner this conflict is settled, the better it will be for the region. Iran plays a special role in regional security," Mammadyarov said.
Mottaki, for his part, said Tehran was ready to do everything in its power to facilitate Garabagh settlement.
While in Tehran, Mammadyarov also met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
During the one-day visit, Baku and Tehran were expected to sign a gas supply deal on Azerbaijan’s gas supplies to the neighboring country, beginning early next year. Under the agreement, the South Caucasus republic is to deliver 500 million cubic meters of gas per year initially, with the bulk to be increased in the future depending on the existing potential.*
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, who hosted his counterpart, told a news conference following the talks that the sides had agreed to create a railway link between Astara, Iran and Astara, Azerbaijan and to further extend this line to the Persian Gulf as part of the North-South project.
Mottaki said discussions also covered cooperation in power deliveries and Iran’s gaining access to CIS power supply markets through Azerbaijani territory.
The two countries are presently implementing a project aiming to increase the volume of electricity supplies to 700 MWt per year.
The Iranian minister said Iran-Azerbaijan annual trade turnover currently stands at $600 million but the two countries are seeking to bring the figure to $1 billion, adding that there is vast potential to reach that goal.
Mammadyarov stressed the importance of cultural cooperation, saying that Days of Azerbaijani Culture will be held in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
Further, the Azerbaijani minister noted that Iran is a stable country in the region, and this stability is of tremendous importance for the ongoing talks on settling the Upper Garabagh conflict.
"The sooner this conflict is settled, the better it will be for the region. Iran plays a special role in regional security," Mammadyarov said.
Mottaki, for his part, said Tehran was ready to do everything in its power to facilitate Garabagh settlement.
While in Tehran, Mammadyarov also met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
During the one-day visit, Baku and Tehran were expected to sign a gas supply deal on Azerbaijan’s gas supplies to the neighboring country, beginning early next year. Under the agreement, the South Caucasus republic is to deliver 500 million cubic meters of gas per year initially, with the bulk to be increased in the future depending on the existing potential.*
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