Azerbaijani defence minister embarks on Iran visit

Tehran, April 14 (AzerTAc). Azerbaijani defence minister Zakir Hasanov has embarked on an official visit to Iran. Mr. Hasanov met Iranian Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Hossein Dehghan, and they discussed bilateral relations and regional security. Mr. Dehghan hailed Iran-Azerbaijan relations as rapidly developing. He said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s official visit to Tehran last week was a strong signal of this. Minister Hasanov said Azerbaijan-Iran relations were developing in all areas, particularly in the field of defence. “The strengthening of these relations is an important contribution to regional peace and security.” He touched on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying Armenia continued to occupy 20% of Azerbaijan`s lands for more than 20 years, while over million Azerbaijanis were living as refugees and IDPs. “The settlement of the problem would contribute to establishing peace and security in the region.” Mr. Hasanov invited the Iranian Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics to visit Azerbaijan. Following the meeting the Azerbaijani minister viewed an exhibition of Iranian defence products. He also visited Azerbaijan`s Embassy to place flowers at a bust to national leader Heydar Aliyev.