Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.10
By Temkin Jafarov - Trend:
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan this week, on Nov.12. It is expected that during the visit, the sides will sign 10 documents, which envisage the expansion of bilateral cooperation in electricity transmission, use of border rivers, simplification of customs procedures, cargo transportation, tourism, trade and gas spheres.
Despite the uneven progress in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, there have been tendencies toward development over the last 20 years.
Azerbaijan and Iran, and the peoples of the two countries are bound by deep historical, cultural and spiritual roots that create a groundwork for the development of relations between the two countries.
Azerbaijani and Iranian officials, as well as political experts of the two countries believe that the high-level mutual visits over the last months give ground to say that a new page has opened in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations.
Azerbaijan and Iran, which have a land border of over 670 kilometers length also border on the Caspian Sea.
The two countries have signed three documents in the sphere of security and fighting against terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking. The signing of these documents was one of the most important steps toward eliminating the misunderstanding and strengthening trust between the two countries.
Azerbaijan and Iran closely cooperate in increasing the volume of trade turnover, investments, reconstruction of Baku-Astara highway, construction of Parsabad-Imishli-Shirvan-Salyan power transmission line, gas supply to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic within swap operations.
The two countries also collaborate in construction of a power plant across the River Araz, development of trade in the border regions, simplification of customs procedures on border checkpoints, science and education, increasing the number of flights, including opening of Baku-Tabriz-Tehran flight.
Azerbaijan and Iran have great potential to develop their relations and become strategic allies.
Iran is well aware that Azerbaijan is a significant country in the region with its "Gateway of the Caucasus". The two countries, which border on land and in the Caspian Sea, have potential to develop and strengthen the relations in trade, transit and energy spheres.
Azerbaijan, for its part, also praises Iran's role in the region and in the world. Iran's participation in the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may promote the ensuring of peace and security in South Caucasus.
Despite the fact that Iran and Azerbaijan cooperate in various spheres, the relations between the two countries haven't reached the desired level so far. However, the two countries are interested in reaching the highest level of bilateral relations.
Temkin Jafarov is Trend commentator
Edited by CN