Azernews.Az

The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey held a trilateral meeting in Azerbaijan`s Nakhchivan autonomous republic last Wednesday to discuss issues including peaceful settlement of the unresolved conflicts in the volatile region.

In a joint statement signed in conclusion of the talks, Elmar Mammadyarov, Ali Akbar Salehi and Ahmet Davutoglu expressed support for continued discussions on key regional and international issues.

The ministers noted the importance of the earliest resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh on the basis of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders of states and emphasized that strengthening the maintenance of peace and stability in the region through the promotion of regional cooperation will have a positive effect in the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts and will serve to their common interests.

The three countries expressed their determination not to allow their territories to be used, under any circumstances, for any threat and activity against each other which may lead to hostilities.

The parties will strengthen their cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism in all their forms, transnational organized crime and, drugs and arms trafficking as well as trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling.

They also welcomed Azerbaijan`s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2012-2013, saying it will contribute to the common interests of the region.

According to the statement, the parties will further develop relations in the fields of economy, energy, trade, industry, transport, communication, press, culture, tourism, sport and environmental protection by means of joint project and cooperation plans for the improvement of well-being of nations of the three countries, economic growth and strengthening of development.

The parties will continue to work together in order to further strengthen economic and commercial ties as well as to promote the level of welfare and prosperity in their countries, taking into consideration the recommendations made by the Trilateral Economic Committee.

The three countries` joint economic bodies will meet in Turkey in May to discuss trade, industry and investment issues, in Azerbaijan in June to discuss transport cooperation, in Iran in September to mull energy issues, and in Iran again in October to address tourism collaboration.

The parties will consider visa-free travel of their nationals among the three countries through adoption of incremental measures.

The statement said the signatories support the right to develop peaceful nuclear energy within the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) framework without any discrimination and inequality, taking into consideration that IAEA is the sole verifying body regarding the implementation of safeguards.

The parties supported the final document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, which adopted a plan of action for the implementation of 1995 Middle East Resolution on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

The signatories will explore the possibilities of improving border-crossing points` infrastructure and exchanging experience in the field of border and customs matters.