Azerbaijani consulate to open in Iran's Mashhad
By Sara Rajabova
An Azerbaijani consulate is planned to open in the Iranian city of Mashhad, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Javanshir Akhundov said Wednesday at a meeting with representatives of the chamber of commerce of Mazandaran province held in Sari.
According to Akhundov, Azerbaijan's running the Consulate General there was suggested by Governor General of Mazandaran province Ali Akbar Tahaei.
"The opening of the Consulate General in Mashhad is a priority issue for us. Opening of the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in the provinces of Mazandaran and Gilan will facilitate further development of the relations between the two countries," the ambassador said.
The diplomat underlined that in order to develop closer economic ties between the two countries, the issue will be discussed at a meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran joint economic commission, which will take place in the near future.
Currently, the Consulate General of Azerbaijan is operating in Tabriz, which is one of the Iranian cities densely populated by Azerbaijanis.
Besides, Mazandaran province head Tahaei at the meeting with Ambassador Akhundov offered to arrange flights from the northern Iranian provinces of Mazandaran, Gilan and Gulustan to the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Iranian news agency ISNA reported.
He said carrying out flights from the cities of Sari, Rasht and Gorgan to Baku may stimulate the development of trade relations between the two countries.
Azerbaijan may buy the required goods from the northern provinces of Iran at cheap prices, he said.
Tahaei also called on Azerbaijani businessmen to invest in the development of Mazandaran province.