Official Criticizes Plots To Damage Tehran-Baku Ties

Baku, April 20, IRNA – A senior official in Azerbaijan Republic Presidential Office said a published article in an Azeri newspaper about relations with Iran is a kind of conspiracy trying to damage bilateral friendly ties between Iran and Azerbaijan Republic. Norouz Mohammadov told reporters on Friday that the article is not the stance of Baku concerning Iran and that relations between the two countries are expanding. He called the article worthless, adding that the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Republic has already expressed its regret over the article in a statement. Referring to religious and historical commonalities between the two nations, Mohammadov said that political, economic, cultural, and social relations between the two countries are rapidly expanding. Olielar Newspapers, published in Baku, published an anti-Iranian article on April 17, 2013. The paper later apologized for the article and wrote that the author and other responsible persons have been reprimanded. Iranˈs Ambassador to Azerbaijan Republic Mohsen Pakaein said Azeri Foreign Ministry move to publish a statement was ˈpositiveˈ and called the article ˈunacceptable.ˈ He added that, undoubtedly, certain elements are trying to damage growing relations between the two countries. Underlining necessity of strengthening bilateral friendly relations, the ambassador urged media to use their efforts in this direction and not to let the opposition elements find an opportunity to disrupt the friendly ties./end