Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey have met in the trilateral meeting on April 5 to discuss issues of bilateral and trilateral interest, which is of significant importance on the background of adverse processes happening in the region.

Economist Ogtay Hagverdiyev made the remark while commenting on the Ramsar meeting of Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan, Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran and Mevlut Cavusoglu of Turkey.

He told Azernews that this meeting of top diplomats from Baku, Tehran and Ankara discussed political issues and several economic projects of mutual interest, as well as joint measures to resolve security issues in the region.

"This meeting showed that the relations between these three countries are good," he noted.

The fourth trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers discussed common trilateral issues, fight against terrorism and extremism and transit of goods.

Talking to media, Javad Zarif said that the three ministers also discussed the prospects of cooperation in the transit, energy, tourism and culture sectors, as well as paid special attention to the regional stability and peace.

Zarif also stated that the milestone of the Ramsar meeting of the three countries was signing of two cooperation documents.

One of the documents is a joint cooperation program for the next two years, while the second document envisions cooperation of the three states to provide peace and security in the region.

Zarif also said that to ensure implementation of the decisions taken during the meeting, a standing steering committee would be established at the level of deputy foreign ministers for political affairs.

Three sides also discussed the need for unity among Islamic states, especially within the Islamic Cooperation Organization, as well as for establishment of a ceasefire and peaceful settlement of dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on international laws.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, all sides underlined their joint stances and the need for launching cooperation as agreed upon by the three foreign ministers, the Iranian FM added.

Under the document, the three countries underlined the firm determination to explore new ways to expand cooperation particularly in the areas that would ensure prosperity for the people of the three countries through economic growth and sustainable development.

Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey decided to intensify all efforts to improve their economic and commercial cooperation so as to meet actual potentials to promote investments and trade, and to further strengthen cooperation in the field of energy, transport, telecommunications, industry, education, science, culture, tourism and sports through joint projects and programs.

The three countries also reiterated the importance of holding regular meetings in the trilateral format to further their political dialogue, coordination and cooperation on regional and global issues and agreed to hold the next meeting in 2017 in Azerbaijan.

Today, cooperation between Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey cover such fields as transit of goods, energy, tourism and cultural issues.

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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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