Ways To Expand Iran-Azerbaijan Ties Studied

Baku, Dec 19, IRNA – Head of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO), Mohammad Baqer Khorramshad, who is in Baku, in a meeting with Head of Caucasus Muslim Office, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahsukur Pashazade, considered ways to develop Tehran-Baku cultural relations. In the meeting, Khorramshad, by referring to membership of Iran and Azerbaijan Republic in international and regional organizations and circles such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization ( ECO), said that such a situation necessitates establishment of good willing and close relations between the two Muslim countries. Head of Caucasus Muslim Office, said that expansion of bilateral cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan Republic will meet interests of both nations and added that plenty of cultural, religious and social commonalities between the two countries paved the ground for increasing trade exchanges and development of political relations. Pashazade called role of Iran's embassy in Baku in strengthening cultural and scientific cooperation between Tehran and Baku very important and underlined holding joint meetings between senior officials of both countries to consider ways to strengthen mutual cooperation. Khorramshad and the accompanying delegation arrived in Baku on Tuesday to attend International Baku Conference ' State and Religion: Strengthening Tolerance in Changing World'. The 2-day conference will be held from December 19-20, 2012, with participation of representatives from a number of Islamic countries in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan Republic. Head of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs Mehmet Gormez, Kuwait Deputy Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Adel Abdullah al-Fallah, and Egyptian Deputy Minister of Endowments Jamal Abdul-Sattar Muhammad are among other guests of the conference./end