Tashkent meeting between Azerbaijani, Iranian presidents focuses on bilateral projects, deepening ties UPDATED

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi in Tashkent.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said:

Dear Mr. President, I am glad to see you too. It is a good opportunity for discussing important issues of bilateral agenda and regional cooperation. I recall our previous meetings and the very serious impetus we give to the steady development of our relations after every meeting. I want to express gratitude to you for your congratulation on the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty across all our territories, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azertac.

We carried out an anti-terror operation in September, which put an end to separatism in Azerbaijan. It paved the way for more active development of Azerbaijan and creates a favorable environment for the whole region.

You mentioned the start of the construction of bridges over the Araz River near Aghband. It is a very promising project. During the next three years after the Second Karabakh War, Armenia refused and continues to refuse to abide by its obligations and ensure passage to Nakhchivan through the major part of Azerbaijan. It is their own choice. I believe they made a gross mistake.

I am happy that as a result of the interaction of Iranian and Azerbaijani representatives, we agreed on the passage of railway and motorway routes along the south bank of the Araz River. I am sure that this project will be completed in a shorter span of time and become another direction of the North-South Transport Corridor. As a result, we will have two routes: the one over the Astara River and the other one over the Aghband area. Both routes will help cement brotherly relations between Iran and Azerbaijan and be accessible to our neighbors and partner countries.

I would like to mention frequent and regular contacts between high-level representatives of the two countries. The visits of the Iranian foreign minister, a deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan, my representative, and your affording a time to receive them indicates the lasting development of our relations.

In previous years, we witnessed the attempts of extra-regional forces to interfere in friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. These attempts were in vain. I am confident that our enemies will not achieve their goals. Iran and Azerbaijan will continue to successfully cooperate and strengthen relations.

15:29

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi in Tashkent on November 9, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azertag.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of President Aliyev’s visit to the Central Asian country to attend the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) summit.