Tehran-Baku Cooperation Provides Regional Security: Vahidi

TEHRAN-BAKU COOPERATION PROVIDES REGIONAL SECURITY: VAHIDI

Islamic Republic News Agency
March 13 2012
Iran

Tehran, March 13, IRNA – Islamic Republic of Iran and Republic of
Azerbaijan relations are historical and their cooperation in field of
defense provides regional security, Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier
General Ahmad Vahidi said on Monday.

He made the remark in a meeting with Azerbaijani Defense Minister
Safar Abiyev.

“Iran is ready to develop relations with Republic of Azerbaijan and
to help the resolution of Karabakh issue,” Vahidi stated.

He noted that Iran and Azerbaijan Republic as two important countries
of the region should confer on international affairs.

Vahidi expressed Iran’s readiness to provide Azerbaijan with its
needed military equipment.

Azerbaijan’s defense minister for his part pointed to Tehran-Baku
cultural relations, adding that there is trust between Iran and
Republic of Azerbaijan.

“There are great potentials for expansion of relations between Iran
and Azerbaijan,” he added.

The Azerbaijani defense minister called for Tehran’s help in resolution
of Karabakh issue.

Abiyev added that fighting against terrorism is the duty of all
countries and the two countries can develop their cooperation in
battle against drug trafficking and terrorism.

“Azerbaijan cooperation with some countries and international
institutions is based on international rules and regulations and not
against any third country,” he said.

Abiyev underlined that his country will under no condition let any
country use its soil against Iran.

Describing Iran as the strongest country in the Islamic world, he said
although the enemies are struggling to mar Baku-Tehran relations,
the two countries must manage to stop hostile media from misusing
the situation.

Expressing his country’s commitment to good-neighborly relations with
Iran as honset, Abiyev said that Azerbaijan is in need of support
from Iran as a powerful country of the region.

The Azeri minister described Iran-Azerbaijan defense cooperation as
a key to peace and stability of the region.

Iran has an embassy in Baku and a consulate-general in the autonomous
republic of Nakhichevan. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Tehran and a
consulate-general in Tabriz.

Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since the latter’s
independence from the former Soviet Union. The two countries have a
majority Shi’a population and share many cultural commonalties.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has made extensive mediation efforts to
settle the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh.