Iran, Azerbaijan’s Progress Interrelated: President Rouhani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The security and development in Iran and Azerbaijan are interrelated, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said, and called for efforts to safeguard their amicable bilateral ties against ill-wishers.
“The security and development of Iran and Azerbaijan are interrelated, and we should not let the countries that are opposed to promotion of friendly ties between the two countries damage those relations,” Rouhani said in a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev in the Russian city of Astrakhan on Monday.
The two presidents met on the sidelines of the 4th summit of the Caspian Sea littoral states, which has brought together senior officials from Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Elsewhere in the meeting, President Rouhani touched on the cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan on the regional and international issues, and added, “Tehran and Baku should adopt concerted stances in the international circles.”
Aliyev, for his part, stressed that security in each of the two countries would affect the other one.
“Azerbaijan’s government and nation are willing to expand cooperation with Tehran in all fields,” he noted.
Back in April this year, Aliyev paid a visit to Tehran to consult with senior Iranian officials on bilateral and regional issues and enhancement of mutual relations.
High-ranking officials from the two countries signed three memoranda of understanding and a cooperation agreement during his visit to Iran at the time.
Trade turn over between the two countries amounted to $281.03 million in 2013, which is 6.13 percent higher than the year before.
