Azernews.Az

By Sara Radjabova

Iran's senior official has said that there is no drug trafficking through the Iranian border to the occupied territory of Azerbaijan.

"We have no ties with the persons exercising border security in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh," Commander of the Iranian Border Police Hussein Zulfugari, who has recently visited Azerbaijan said Zulfugari told Trend news agency.

According to Zulfugari, the border protection is carried out unilaterally. May be drugs come in these territories in very small quantities.

"But I can say that drugs haven't been transferred through our border to the occupied territory," he

Zulfugari stressed that Iran recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as Azerbaijan's territory. "Iran's position on this issue is open and transparent."

"If one country occupies the territory of another country, our policy is directed against this," Zulfugari emphasized. "Iran stands against weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, drug smuggling and war."

According to Zulfugari, there is no relation between Iranian border guards and Azerbaijan's occupied territory.

"We do not have any relation with the opposite side. This position is based on our policy in the region. We hope that the problem will soon be solved," Zulfugari said.

He also noted that currently Iran faces some problems, particularly drug trafficking, weapon, and illegal immigrants.

Zulfugari added that if Iran doesn't largely fight against terrorism, terrorism will cover the entire region. "Iran is located in such geographical position that terrorist groups act both in the West and in the North. Our fighting against terrorism is in favor of the whole region," he said.

Speaking about fighting against drugs trafficking, Zulfugari said that Iran conducts a serious fight against drugs trafficking and transit.

He noted that over 38 tons of drugs are destroyed in Iran each month.

According to Zulfugari, fighting against drugs in Iran contributes to solving this problem in the region.

He informed that Iran carry out a great job on fight against drug smuggling on the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan and as a result of fighting against these problems, Iran has already got over 4,000 killed and 12,000 injured.

Zulfugari said Azerbaijani and Iranian border guards are very well guarding the border and border guards of the two countries detain the citizens, who attempt to transport drugs across the border.

He also added that the relations between Iranian and Azerbaijani border guard services are at high level and there were no problems with security on the Iranian- Azerbaijani border due to efforts of the border guards of the two countries. "Therefore, the border between the two countries is known as a border of peace and friendship," he said.

According to Zulfugari, relations between the two states in this sphere develop day by day as in other spheres. He also noted that the leaders and nations of the two states are keen to strengthen bilateral relations.

He said that the border guards are aimed to ensure security of citizens. "Of course, if the country's borders are not guarded, this will lead to the increase of crime and smuggling," Zulfugari emphasized.

Zulfugari held a press-conference on September 17 to summarize his visit to Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan and Iran have reached a number of agreements in the border sphere," he said.

Within his two-day visit to Azerbaijan, Iran's border Police held discussions with the head of the Azerbaijani State Border Service Elchin Guliyev.

According to Zulfugari, at the meeting with Guliyev, the sides came to an agreement to hold a meeting of the border guards of both countries twice a year to share information about criminals, and meeting of deputy commanders of border troops once a year. There is also an accord to organize bilateral meetings of border guards once a year in Baku and Tehran.

Zulfugari said fortification work along the River Araz should be based on mutual understanding and agreement of border guards. He informed that Julfa Bridge is ready, and the two sides have discussed the recognition of the boundary line on the bridge.

"Azerbaijani border guards promised to carry out a study into the issue within three months and announce their decision. The old bridge is unfit for use. We will try to open a new bridge in the near future," Zulfugari said.

Speaking about the Caspian Sea security, he said Iran stands against the presence of external forces in the Caspian Sea. He said the presence of external forces in the Caspian region could be a threat to the regional countries.

Zulfugari noted Tehran sees no threat in the Caspian Sea and the security of the region must be ensured by the countries themselves.

"Every country increases the readiness of its forces to ensure its safety," he added. "Some Caspian countries buy modern ships and enhance the technical equipment. Iran is also increasing power for the protection of its maritime boundaries. We believe that the Caspian Sea is a sea of peace and prosperity for the neighboring countries. The security in the Caspian Sea must be ensured by the Caspian littoral countries."

During his visit to Azerbaijan, Zulfigari met with Chairman of Caucasian Muslims Board (CMB) Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade.

During the meeting Pashazade said while speaking about the borders of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas should also be taken into account.

Pashazade highlighted good relations of Azerbaijan and Iran in the sphere of religion.

He spoke about the good relations with the newly elected president of Iran Hassan Rouhani and noted that the last meeting with the president of Iran was very fruitful.

Pashazade said Iran develops both from economic and spiritual point of view.

In turn, Zulfugari said his country wants peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.

Zulfugari visited Baku at the invitation of the head of the Azerbaijani State Border Service Guliyev.

The goal of the visit was to ensure security of the two countries' borders and to strengthen the fight against drugs.