Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev has discussed issues of mutual interest and regional developments with Iran's senior officials during his official visit to the neighboring country.

On Monday, Mehdiyev held a meeting with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Press TV reported.

During the meeting President Ahmadinejad said nothing could harm the brotherly ties between Iran and Azerbaijan.

"Today, the people and government of Azerbaijan are moving on the path of progress and Iran supports this trend and considers it beneficial for both countries as well as regional nations," Ahmadinejad stated.

The Iranian president said that the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan are outstanding and brotherly, noting that Iran believes the two countries would harmoniously move towards strengthening their relations.

Mehdiyev said Azerbaijan considers Iran a friend. "We have to enhance our cooperation and we have many opportunities at our disposal for that purpose," he added.

Mehdiyev noted that Azerbaijan appreciates support of the Iranian government to Baku on various occasions and believes the two countries must be supporters of each other and stand side by side just as they do so geographically.

On the same day, the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration head met with Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani.

Larijani stressed Tehran's readiness to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 as a result of Armenia's unfair territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Unleashing a lengthy war with its South Caucasus neighbor, Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. Peace talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs representing the United States, Russia and France have been largely fruitless so far.

Larijani said that regional countries are capable of solving their problems through close cooperation.

"In this regard, Iran stresses its readiness to contribute to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis," he noted.

Larijani pointed to numerous cultural, religious and geographical commonalities between Iran and Azerbaijan and described their relations as brotherly and friendly.

He underlined the significance of using the potential of the two countries to develop bilateral political, economic and cultural ties, adding that the Iranian parliament supports any approach aimed at boosting cooperation and relations based on mutual respect and common interests.

Mehdiyev, for his part, said that Iran is a friend of Azerbaijan and there are deep historical bonds between the people of the two countries.

He warned against efforts by certain foreign countries to disturb the friendly relations between Tehran and Baku, urging the consolidation of relations.

Mehdiyev also welcomed Iran's efforts to facilitate a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Also on Monday, Mehdiyev met with the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili.

Jalili stressed the cultural bonds between Iran and Azerbaijan and said common opportunities and common threats lay the grounds for further cultural, political and economic cooperation.

"With its utmost potential and full experience, Iran is ready to expand and promote relations between the two countries," Jalili noted.

He emphasized that no country can make a dent in the deep amicable relations between Tehran and Baku.

Mehdiyev, in turn, said Tehran's progress is in line with Baku's national interests.