Tehran Gets Positive Signals from Baku: Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the country has received “positive messages” from the Republic of Azerbaijan in the course of bilateral talks with the neighboring state.
Commenting on the recent friction between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference on Monday, “Our principle in the bilateral ties with neighbors, notably with the Republic of Azerbaijan, is mutual respect, the enhancement of relations and bilateral cooperation.”
Pointing to the “positive messages” that Iran has recently received from the Azeri officials within the framework of the bilateral talks, the spokesman said, “We hope the necessary steps would be taken proportional to this positive language in the course of the bilateral talks.”
He said the relations between Tehran and Baku have grown in the past year as the two neighbors have strengthened cooperation. “However, issues happen that are unfortunately against the process of the common political will for the promotion of ties.”
The spokesman also called on the Azeri officials to avoid using the media to talk about misunderstandings and differences, saying the media should be employed for closer friendship.
In remarks on Sunday, an assistant to the Azeri president said Baku has always been interested in the development of relations with Iran on the basis of mutual respect and trust.
"We got acquainted with the statement made by Ali Akbar Velayati, adviser to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to the Iranian media," assistant of the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev told APA.
He was referring to a statement from Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on international affairs.
Hajiyev said, "We appreciate and value the remarks made by Ali Akbar Velayati about the common history, religious, cultural heritage, and traditions of our peoples and Azerbaijan-Iran relations as a whole.
“The Republic of Azerbaijan has always been interested in the development of relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran on the basis of mutual respect and trust, and this is still the case today," he stated.
In an article for the Tasnim News Agency, Velayati praised the key role played by Azeri people in Iran's history and their important steps in defending the country and promoting Iran's power and regional significance.
