Azerbaijani leader, Iranian VP review ongoing collaborative projects

On November 13, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a meeting with Vice President of Iran and Head of the Department of Environment Shina Ansari.

Shina Ansari extended congratulations to President Aliyev for successfully hosting COP29 in Baku and conveyed warm greetings from President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

In response, President Aliyev thanked Ansari for the greetings and asked her to pass on his regards to President Pezeshkian. President Aliyev fondly recalled his phone conversation with Masoud Pezeshkian after his election, noting that since then, Azerbaijani government delegations at various levels had visited Iran. Shina Ansari acknowledged the strong and historic ties between Iran and Azerbaijan, emphasizing the significance of their relations.

During their discussion, the leaders reviewed ongoing collaborative projects on the Araz River, including the construction of a hydropower plant and environmental initiatives, highlighting the importance of the intergovernmental commission's role in these efforts. They also focused on the North-South Transport Corridor, emphasizing the trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran. The conversation touched upon ecological challenges in the Caspian Sea, particularly the issue of its declining water levels. 

Both parties emphasized the importance of cooperation among the neighboring countries to address these pressing environmental concerns. President Ilham Aliyev expressed concerns over the environmental damage caused by waste discharge from Armenia's mining industry into the Araz River, highlighting its detrimental impact on the river's ecosystem. The leaders exchanged views on various aspects of their bilateral relations.

By Naila Huseynova