Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan and Iran made a commitment to enhance bilateral relations and take their ties to a higher level.

The expansion of mutual relations was discussed during the visit of Emergency Situations Minister of Azerbaijan Kamaladdin Heydarov to Iran last week.

During a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on March 15, Heydarov said the establishment of a new government in Iran has created a basis for the development of relations between the two countries, and Azerbaijan is ready to use this opportunity, Iranian media reported.

Heydarov conveyed President Ilham Aliyev's special message to the Iranian president.

He said Rouhani and Aliyev's attention will pave the ground for the development of relations between the two countries.

Rouhani, in turn, said relations between Iran and Azerbaijan is at a satisfactory level, but there is great potential for further development.

He noted that Iran is interested in developing relations with neighboring countries, especially Azerbaijan.

"Iran and Azerbaijan are two friendly and brotherly neighboring countries, and we want to establish a relationship worthy of the two countries' people," Rouhani said.

Prior to the meeting with Iranian President, Heydarov met with the head of Iran's Customs Administration Masoud Karbasiyan.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways of solving the existing problems in the development of economic and trade relations between the countries.

Karbasiyan proposed to revise certain customs laws that have created hurdles for the development of economic ties, saying that the difficulties Iranian citizens face in obtaining visas is one of these problems.

Heydarov also proposed to reduce customs duties for goods produced in Azerbaijan and exported to Iran.

At the meeting with Iranian Deputy Interior Minister and head of Iranian Disaster Management Organization Ismail Najjar on March 16, Heydarov said Azerbaijan is ready to cooperate with Iran in the prevention of emergency situations and elimination of waste material.

Heydarov said the Azerbaijani side is ready to hold joint exercises on rescue operations in the Caspian Sea.

He noted that in case of fire in the Caspian Sea or coastal forests, some areas can only be reached by helicopter.

Heydarov also said the absence of an agreement on cooperation between the two countries hinder joint resolution of emergencies, pointing out that signing a cooperation agreement would play an important part in improving cooperation in disaster management.

In turn, Najjar said Iran has rich experiences in dealing with floods, earthquakes, landslides, and other natural disasters, and is ready to share its experience with Azerbaijan.

During the visit, Heydarov also took a trip to Mashhad, the capital of Razavi Khorasan province, in Iran.

In a meeting with governor general of the Khorasan Razavi province Ali Reza Rashidian, Heydarov underlined the need for promoting bilateral ties with Iran, calling for steps to be taken in this regard by identifying capacities and talents.

He said Iran and Azerbaijan share numerous commonalities in cultural, social, religious, and economic fields, which should be used in line with enhancing interactions.

Heydarov said Iran and Azerbaijan's capacities for investment in different fields should be introduced to investors, noting that statesmen should prepare the necessary conditions for investment.

Describing his visit to Iran and Mashhad as very positive, he said the trips will pave the way for promoting bilateral ties.

Rashidian, in turn, called for identification of the two countries' potentials in various fields to boost bilateral ties, and noted that some 13,000 Azerbaijani pilgrims visited Mashhad last year.

Rashidian said the officials of both countries should make the necessary preparations to increase such visits, noting that the establishment of the Mashhad-Baku direct flight will play a crucial role in this regard.