Iran Newspaper published a memo by Mojtaba Rouzbahani, deputy head of the general directorate of foreign media of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday, who wrote:
Upon arrival at Baku International Airport, the Iranian FM was welcomed very warmly by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic.
FM Amirabdollahian told IRNA in an interview that he has various ideas to help boost cooperation with Azerbaijan Republic, adding that he also held talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart three times in New York, Ashgabat, and Islamabad.
The Iranian foreign minister also held talks with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in two rounds of negotiations on bilateral ties, regional issues, and international cooperation.
Amirabdollahian further referred to important and amicable meeting between presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran on the sidelines of a conference in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to resolve misunderstandings, adding that there have been several consultations by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Baku to pave the ground for expansion of collaborations in all political, economic, cultural and defense fields.
President Aliyev described the Islamic Republic as a friendly and brotherly neighboring state for his country, noting that his meeting with President Raisi had had achievements such as paving the ground for Iranian companies to participate in reconstruction of liberated areas of Azerbaijan, resuming direct flights between Iran and Azerbaijan, as well as releasing certain Iranian nationals from jails in Azerbaijan.
In a meeting with Sahiba Gafarova, the speaker of Azerbaijan’s National Assembly, FM Amirabdollahian attached importance to parliamentary diplomacy in advancing foreign policies of both countries.
At the end of his trip to Baku, Amirabdollahian was received by his Azerbaijani counterpart and they held three rounds of talks. The two sides agreed upon continuation of a joint committee of media cooperation.
The short but fruitful visit by Iranian FM is the first trip by a high-ranking official of the Raisi administration to Baku, indicating Tehran’s success in prioritizing relationships with neighboring states.
1424
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