Azerbaijan, Iran sign joint declaration on friendship and cooperation

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 13

By Sabina Ahmadova - Trend:

Azerbaijan and Iran signed a joint declaration on friendship and cooperation, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said Nov. 13.

The joint declaration envisages the following tasks:

- Promoting comprehensive development of bilateral relations by the parties;

- Continuing the political dialogue at various levels on regional and international problems of mutual interest in all spheres;

- Intensification of cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries and organizing mutual visits of parliament members;

- Readiness to take appropriate measures to prevent the activities of organizations, groups and individuals against the territorial integrity and state sovereignty of the two countries;

- Development of cooperation in international and regional issues;

- Carrying out joint activities to maintain peace and stability in the region;

- Non-recognition of the results of the violation of internationally recognized borders;

- Settlement of conflicts based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of state borders.

The sides reiterated the importance of the peaceful settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

They expressed support to the right of all countries, including Iran to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes within cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Iranian and Azerbaijani sides said they promote international cooperation in joint fighting against terrorism and expressed support to the initiatives for intercultural dialogue.

The two sides also emphasized the importance of the effective use of UN potential in fighting against new threats and challenges.

The parties to the declaration expressed readiness to carry out joint activities in UN structures and to fight against terrorism, separatism, extremism, illegal drug trafficking and trans-border crime.

Moreover, Iranian and Azerbaijani sides expressed intentions to strengthen mutual activities in the UN, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Organization for Economic Cooperation and other international and regional organizations.

The sides emphasized the significance of the activities of Azerbaijan-Iran joint commission on cooperation in economic, trade and humanitarian spheres and expressed intentions to intensify the mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres of economy, primarily in industry, energy, construction, agriculture and tourism.

The sides will continue developing bilateral economic, trade, investment, scientific and technical relations. They will make every effort to develop cooperation in transport-communication area and create favorable conditions for transit through the territory of their countries.

The sides will also consider the projects in the field of mutual and joint investment in other countries. They will take important actions for the implementation of joint projects. The sides will make extra efforts to implement joint energy projects to develop the equitable and mutually effective cooperation.

In this context, both sides expressed the need for rapid signing of the "Agreement on the continuation of the construction and operation of hydroelectric nodes and Khudaferin and Qiz Qalasi hydroelectric power stations between Azerbaijan and Iran.

They stressed the importance of rapid implementation of the "Agreement on cooperation in the construction and operation of Ordubad and Marazad power stations between the governments of Azerbaijan and Iran."

The sides emphasized the importance of trans-border cooperation and new joint projects with preservation of mutual interests with the effective use of the Araz River.

They also stressed the importance of further joint cooperation between the Caspian countries to coordinate the convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

The sides emphasized the importance of implementing the outcome of the Caspian summit held in Astrakhan on September 29, 2014.

They stressed the importance of further cooperation in the field of environmental protection, preventing the natural and man-made disasters and eliminating their consequences.

The sides emphasized the importance of making efforts to further expand cooperation in the fields of culture and art, science and health care and to support the strengthening of relations between the figures of culture and art.

They also expressed confidence that the declaration will serve to strengthen trust and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

The joint declaration, as a result of the negotiations held between the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani, was adopted in two original copies at Azerbaijani and Persian languages on November 12, 2014.

The document was signed during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's official visit to Azerbaijan.