Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif held discussions in Tehran on November 26 within the 21st meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Economic Cooperation (ECO).

During the meeting Mammadyarov said that the Azerbaijani government welcomed the results of recent talks in Geneva with the participation of Iran's Foreign Minister and "Six".

Iran and six world powers reached a breakthrough deal early on November 24 on Tehran's nuclear program. The two sides have signed a joint "plan of action". The deal signed in Geneva suggests some softening of sanctions against Iran.

In turn, Zarif congratulated the people of Azerbaijan the recent October 9 presidential elections which ended in decisive victory of incumbent President Ilham Aliyev.

During the meeting they discussed issues of energy, culture, education and other areas of bilateral cooperation. An agreement was reached to hold a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on cooperation in the near future.

The foreign ministers also exchanged views on the border situation.

Iran and Azerbaijan recently had a problem on the border after Iran imposed restrictions on the border-crossing point in Julfa and Bilasuvar for the closing of the Shahtakhti-Poldesht border-crossing point by Azerbaijani border guards.

In mid-November, Iran lifted the restrictions on the movement of vehicles and passengers at those checkpoints.

The next meeting of the joint Azerbaijani-Iranian border commission will be held in December. The meeting will discuss the use of a new bridge at the Julfa border checkpoint.

Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsun Pakayin said the Iranian and Azerbaijani experts have confirmed the fact that the old bridge in this area is not suitable for the transportation of goods over 30 tons.

The ECO meeting ended in Tehran on November 26 with Iran's undertaking chairmanship of the organization from Azerbaijan.