Salehi: Foreigners Not Allowed To Meddle In Regional Affairs

Tehran, March 8, IRNA – Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi says foreigners should not be allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of regional countries. Speaking at the beginning of trilateral Iran-Turkey-Azerbaijan meeting in Nakhichevan on Wednesday, Salehi said foreigners have concentrated their efforts on seizing opportunities in the region and promote their war-mongering policies. He underlined the need for collective efforts to restore rights of the Palestinian people and secure liberation of the occupied lands from the usurper Zionist regime. 'In our view, the three countries' cooperation can serve as a proper basis for promotion of regional peace and stability, preparing the ground for expansion of cooperation and relations within framework of regional cooperation. Such a basis can serve regional peace and stability and we believe that peaceful and fair solution to regional conflicts will be available through regional cooperation.' The Iranian, Turkish and Azeri nations share common history, religion and stands on international development, Salehi said, adding that the three nations are one nation culturally. He said, 'As inheritors of thee firm historical and spiritual bonds and common cultural and civilization heritage, we can through such sessions express our will of using the opportunities created by huge wealth for prosperity, development, welfare and tranquility of people.' The Iranian minister said, 'We live in a region that is the cradle of civilization and culture; so, we should by relying on the longstanding background and offer a superior model to the world and it is necessary to facilitate people-to-people links.' Salehi said that holding of the first session of foreign ministers of the three countries of Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey in Orumiyeh, the capital of Iran's northwestern West Azarbaijan Province, laid the foundation stone for stepping in the new course in line with mutual interests. 'We look for ways to define tangible trilateral projects by holding this session, he said. 'The projects are of special importance in various fields, including economy, commerce, industry, investment, transportation, communications, science and technology, tourism and public contacts; they can broaden projects for mutual cooperation and influence deepening of relations among the three countries.' Due to its special geographical location, Iran has important transit ways, added the minister. Salehi called for activation of Iranian, Turkish and Azeri private sectors. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov too in separate speeches underlined importance of relations among the three countries on bilateral and regional levels, prasing the successful holding of the first tripartite session in Orumiyeh./end