FM Amir-Abdollahian in Baku to Improve Ties

Date: 22 December 2021 - 21:42

News ID: ۹۸۰۸۱

BAKU (Dispatches) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian arrived here Wednesday for an official visit at his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov’s invitation.
Amir-Abdollahian told reporters upon arrival that there are various ideas for developing Iranian-Azerbaijani cooperation.
“Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan are developing on an upward trend. I have had many meetings with my Azerbaijani counterpart over the past three months. We have reached a positive agreement on the development of cooperation. Within the visit, the mentioned issues will be finalized,” he said.
Later in the day, Amir-Abdollahian met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Fars news agency said. He was also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Azerbaijani Parliament speaker Sahiba Gafarova, Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, and Bayramov.
The two sides were to discuss prospects for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, as well as regional processes.
Earlier, Bayramov and Amir-Abdollahian discussed regional issues at their meeting that was held on the sidelines of the ECO Council of Foreign Ministers in Ashgabat, on November 28.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current regional situation, including the Sochi meeting of the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders, the declaration signed on November 26, the implementation of trilateral statements in general and the importance of the “3+3” cooperation platform.
The ministers welcomed the meetings held in New York within the framework of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly this year, as well as constructive work on the implementation of agreements reached during numerous telephone conversations. In addition, they expressed satisfaction with the meeting of the co-chairs of the Azerbaijan-Iranian State Commission on Economic, Trade and Humanitarian Affairs on November 21 in Tehran.
The sides also discussed other important regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the country and the surrounding region, as well as negotiations in Vienna on removing sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
After liberating its lands from Armenia’s occupation in a 44-day war in 2020, Azerbaijan restored control over the 132-km section of the Azerbaijan-Iran border.
Azerbaijani officials say the restoration of control over the state border has created new opportunities and prospects for broader cooperation between the two countries.
Trade between Azerbaijan and Iran stood $339.1 million in 2020.