TEHRAN, BAKU CAN PLAY EFFECTIVE ROLE IN MAINTAINING REGIONAL SECURITY
In a meeting with visiting Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Khatami added the region belongs to all its countries and therefore, the regional countries should cooperate to restore stability and develop it.
Pointing to the determination of the two countries' officials to expand mutual relations in recent years, he said the agreements signed by Tehran and Baku will ensure mutual interests and deepen bilateral cooperation.
Touching upon crises in the region, Khatami expressed hope that the existing problems would be resolved through wisdom and adoption of proper policies.
For his part, the Azeri foreign minister submitted to Khatami a letter of invitation from his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev to pay a state visit to Azerbaijan.
Mammadyarov cited the achievements made during late Azeri president's visit to Iran and called for efforts to be made to ensure bilateral and regional interests. The Azeri official briefed Khatami on the political and economic situation of his country, saying "Azerbaijan republic, since its independence, has embarked on strengthening its infrastructures. We do hope that we will attain progress and development given the independence and numerous natural resources in the country." Iran, Azerbaijan Call For Expansion Of Ties
Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi also in a meeting with his Azeri counterpart, discussed possible avenues for bolstering of bilateral ties in various fields.
Mammadyarov assessed talks on legal regime of the Caspian Sea as positive, adding the Caspian Sea should be the sea of friendship and cooperation among the littoral states.
He hoped littoral states would reach a consensus on the legal regime of the sea.
"Tehran regards as important its ties with Azerbaijan Republic particularly both from economic and geopolitical points of view and considers the common borders as borders of friendship and peace," Kharrazi said. Kharrazi termed trade and economic cooperation between the two countries as "progressive" and added, "Iran and Azerbaijan have launched good cooperation in various fields including transfer of electricity, development affairs, road-building, construction of power plants and energy. "Such cooperation can further expand."
The two sides also exchanged views on regional issues, including Karabakh.
Kharrazi stressed that as a friendly country, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to contribute to settlement of Karabakh dispute.
He said Tehran pursues settlement of Karabakh dispute within framework of the charters of the UN and of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
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