Iran, Azerbaijan call for security cooperation

“Cooperation among regional countries will turn the region into one of the largest and most secure energy zones in the world,” Azeri President Ilham Aliyev told visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.

Mottaki expressed satisfaction over the growing cooperation between the two neighbors, especially in energy, trade, and transportation spheres.

He said, “The regional countries have established good bilateral and multilateral relations and this trust and friendliness can further boost security cooperation amongst them.”

Aliyev said, “Iran, as a friendly and brotherly country, plays a key role in regional developments.”

“If we hold dialogue among regional countries, stability and peace will be established in the region and there would be no need to extra-regional powers,” said the Azeri president.

The two sides also called for cooperation in campaign against extremism in the region.

Mottaki’s visit to Baku came one day after his trip to Moscow. The Iranian top diplomat’s visits to the two capitals is very important especially after the 5-day war between Georgia and Russia last month which is pushing the Caucasus region into new developments. 

BA/PA

END

MNA