Envoy: Iran-Azerbaijan Ties On Path Toward Development

Baku, March 15, IRNA – Tehran-Baku ties are on the path toward development and growth, Deputy Foreign Minister for Asian and Atlantic Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour said here Thursday night at the end of his three-day visit. Referring to his intensive talks with Azerbaijan Republicˈs president, and ministers of foreign affairs, unexpected developments and his Azeri counterpart for Caspian Sea Field Affairs, Rahimpour said in a press conference that crucial decisions were made aimed to expand mutual comprehensive ties. Referring to both countriesˈ presidentsˈ resolute wills for expansion of comprehensive bilateral ties, he said, ˈfollowing the very important meeting between both countriesˈ presidents on the sidelines of the Davos World Economic Forum was the beginning for a new chapter in the atmosphere of two countriesˈ relations, and the main decision for the expansion of ties was in fact taken in that meeting. He also referred to the two countriesˈ great economic potentials and capacities, informing that the Iranian and Azerbaijani officials both have strong wills for improving the current half billion US dollar trade balance to much higher levels. ˈCooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan in bilateral, regional, international fields will be both to the benefit of the regional nations and the regional and international peace and security,ˈ he added. Rahimpour said that he was the first official envoy of the new Iranian government on an official visit of the Azerbaijan Republic, reiterating, ˈThe revised schedule for the future ties between Iran and Azerbaijan is an advanced plan, aimed at effective contribution to achieving the will of the two countriesˈ presidents for the expansion of bilateral ties.ˈ He also informed the media about the near future visits of several Azerbaijan Republic officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the exchange of high ranking delegations between the two countries in the course of the year 2014 as the scheduled programs in the abovementioned program. The Iranian special envoy for the Caspian Sea affairs also referred to the talks he has held with his Azerbaijani counterpart, announcing the two countriesˈ decision to continue cooperation among the five littoral state of the worldˈs largest lake. ˈThere are shared concerns and differences of opinion among these five countries, but we are all determined to decrease the problems in the course of time on a low slanting slope,ˈ he said. Rahimpour referred to the Caspian Sea as the lake for peace and friendship, whose resorts belong to all generations and the present generationˈs responsibility for preserving that heritage. The Foreign Ministryˈs Asia and Atlantic deputy also informed about the near future convening of the two countriesˈ joint economic commission, saying, ˈTalks were held during this visit on the time for holding the two countriesˈ joint economic commission within the next two months, and the combination of the officials who will take part in it.ˈ Commenting on his visit to Nakhchivan, Rahimpour stressed that there he will discuss the development of ties. He also expressed satisfaction with the fact that he sees a strong and economically developed Azerbaijan. Rahimpour also said he is the first representative of the new Iranian government to pay a visit to Baku. ˈThere will start various visits from Azerbaijan to Iran following my visit. Tomorrow the Emergency Situations Minister Kemaleddin Heydarov will visit Iran, during which there will be a series of meetings. Afterwards some Azerbaijani ministers will pay visits to Iran,ˈ the deputy minister said. Asked about visas, Rahimpour stressed that the Iranian side would be happy if Azerbaijani side abolishes visas for the citizens of Iran. He said the importance of both bilateral and five-party talks on the Caspian Seaˈs legal status was stressed during a meeting with Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov. The Iranian deputy foreign minister said he is confident that no unresolved issues will remain between the two states. After Baku, Ebrahim Rahimpour will visit Nakhchivan on March 15-16. It is planned that there Rahimpour will meet with the chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Vasif Talibov and other officials./end