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By Sara Rajabova

Cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan contributes to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, says Iranian envoy.

Mohsen Pak Ayeen, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan said on February 11 that the strengthening of bilateral relations between Iran and Azerbaijan will provide a basis for the settlement of regional conflicts.

Noting Iran’s commitment to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Pak Ayeen said strengthening of relations between the two brotherly countries contributes to peace, stability and development in the region.

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.

Tehran has repeatedly offered to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Earlier, Pak Ayeen said the peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is one of the main goals of Iran's foreign policy.

Besides, touching upon Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s visit to Azerbaijan, Pak Ayeen said intensification of Azerbaijani-Iranian relations will be discussed during the visit of the minister.

He said the Iranian minister will visit Azerbaijan on February16 at the invitation of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. During the visit, the minister will hold several high-level meetings and discuss the intensification of the bilateral relations.

Pak Ayeen further informed that Ali Abbasov, Azerbaijani Minister of Communications and High Technologies will visit Tehran on February 22-24 to attend a meeting of Non-Aligned Movement. During the visit of Azerbaijani minister will hold meetings with Iranian officials, according to Iranian envoy.

He expressed hope that this visit will contribute to further strengthening of relations between Iran and Azerbaijan.

Pak Ayeen also added that the trade turnover between the two countries has recently expanded.

Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee data showed that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran on the results of 2014 amounted to 186.6 million dollars, while 147.2 million of this fall to the share of imports.

Furthermore, along with the bilateral cooperation, Baku and Tehran are expanding the collaboration in the multilateral formats.

Pak Ayeen told Trend news agency that Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey will discuss strengthening of economic relations as part of the trilateral meeting of the economy ministers.

He said the meeting will be held in Iran in March. The exact date and the host city have not been set yet.

"The presidents of all three countries are interested in the development of trilateral cooperation. We held a trilateral meeting at the level of foreign ministers. But the meeting will be held at the level of economy ministers now. The meeting promotes the development of trilateral economic relations," said Pak Ayeen.

He also added that a meeting of the bilateral economic commission will be held in Tehran this summer.

Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.

Tehran has in recent years focused seriously on development of ties with neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan which enjoys various commonalties with Iran in religious, historical and cultural fields.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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