Azerbaijan, Iran reaffirm solidarity during Ghalibaf visit to Baku PHOTO

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received a delegation led by Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on June 24.

According to AZERTAC, President Ilham Aliyev stressed that the brotherly people of Iran had endured great suffering in recent times and once again extended his condolences, praying for mercy upon those who lost their lives in the war.

The President noted that during the war, the people and state of Azerbaijan stood by the people and state of Iran. He described his telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as other contacts and expressions of solidarity at various levels, as clear evidence of this support.

President Ilham Aliyev emphasised that Azerbaijan welcomed the cessation of hostilities with great satisfaction and recalled that the country had immediately issued an official statement in this regard.

“I hope there will be no wars in the region,” President Ilham Aliyev said, noting that both Azerbaijan and Iran have suffered from wars in the past.

The head of state warmly recalled Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s previous visit to Azerbaijan and highlighted the importance of his participation in the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Expressing confidence that the event would contribute to strengthening Islamic solidarity, President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan will host the OIC Summit next year and said that preparations for the event had already begun.

The President also underlined that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s visit would provide a good opportunity to discuss issues related to the bilateral agenda.

President Ilham Aliyev also touched upon the successful development of Azerbaijan-Iran relations.

Expressing satisfaction with the meeting, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf conveyed the greetings of President Masoud Pezeshkian to the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked him for the greetings and asked that his own regards be conveyed to President Pezeshkian.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf expressed gratitude for the support shown by President Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani state, and the Azerbaijani people during Iran’s difficult days.

The Iranian speaker also thanked the Azerbaijani President for visiting Iran’s embassy in Azerbaijan to offer condolences following the deaths of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and many civilians, as well as for sending a congratulatory letter to Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei on his election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Describing war as a great tragedy and source of suffering, the guest noted that throughout the conflict Azerbaijan had remained committed to good-neighbourly relations with Iran, had not spared humanitarian assistance, and that the Azerbaijani people had stood by Iran. He stressed that this would remain forever in the memory of the Iranian people.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Azerbaijan and Iran had always stood by one another in difficult times and described this as another example of the unity and solidarity between the two countries. He added that the war had also demonstrated the importance for Iran of maintaining close contacts with Muslim countries. According to him, Iran had learned who its friends and enemies were during the conflict, and Azerbaijan had stood by Iran as a friendly nation.

During the conversation, both sides expressed confidence that Azerbaijan-Iran relations would continue to develop dynamically in the future. Satisfaction was also voiced that the construction of the Aghband–Kalaleh bridge had already been completed and that the Aras Corridor, passing through Iranian territory, would help expand regional transport opportunities.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on the prospects for bilateral relations, including interparliamentary cooperation. The activities of the intergovernmental commission were also discussed.