Azerbaijan Has Special Place In Iranˈs Foreign Policy: Veep

Tehran, June 19, IRNA – The Republic of Azerbaijan has a special place in Iranˈs foreign policy, said Iranian First Vice-President Es-haq Jahangiri on Wednesday. In a meeting in Tehran with Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Azerbaijan Ali Abbasov, Jahangiri said Iran attaches special significance to relations with neighboring countries, Azerbaijan in particular. He described abundant cultural, historical and religious commonalties as a base for further expansion of friendly ties between the two neighbors. The vice-president voiced dissatisfaction with the low level of Tehran-Baku trade, urging both countries to take necessary measures to upgrade bilateral trade. Describing a recent visit to Tehran by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev as fruitful, Jahangiri said the visit opened a new chapter in Tehran-Baku relations. Discussions between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Azerbaijani counterpart in Tehran paved the way for deepening relations between the two countries and provided an opportunity that has to be seized by officials from both sides. In the meantime, the Azeri minister appreciated Iranˈs stands on Karabakh dispute and its efforts to peacefully resolve the issue. Referring to an upcoming session of Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission to be held in Baku in the near future, the Azeri minister said he had conferred with his Iranian counterpart Ali Vaezi in this regard. He expressed hope that the commission session in Baku will give a boost to trade between Tehran and Baku. A delegation comprising Azeri private sector activists is accompanying Abbasov in his Iran visit./end