Iran FM: President's Baku Trip, To Open New Chapter In Ties

Baku, Oct 15, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said here Monday the visit to Baku of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will open a new chapter in friendly relations between the two nations. Salehi made the remarks in a meeting with staff members of Iran Embassy in Baku and a number of Iranian officials residing here. On Tehran-Baku cultural commonalities, he said such opportunities should serve interests of both nations. He reiterated that Iran-Azerbaijan close cultural, political and trade cooperation would benefit the entire region. Underlining the need for fostering mutual trade relations, Salehi expressed hope that the two nations would witness enhanced ties in all fields in near future. Salehi arrived in the Azeri capital Monday morning to attend the 20th ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). The ECO meeting will focus on the developments in the past two years during the rotating presidency of Turkey over the organization and the objectives of the ECO vision document for 2015, as well as the body's performance. Azerbaijan will take over ECO rotating presidency from Turkey. Iran handed over its presidency to Turkey in a conference in Istanbul in 2010./end