Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 6 / Trend E. Huseynli /
Azerbaijani and Iranian sides could come to an agreement at the talks on cooperation in the field of media, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department Chief Ali Hasanov told Trend on Tuesday. He was commenting on the results of the visit to Tehran.
The Azerbaijani delegation headed by Ali Hasanov held talks in Tehran last week.
"I met with the heads of the organizations responsible for broadcasting at the meetings in Iran," he said. "We met with representatives of multi-media bodies, news agencies, e-media, as well as bodies forming Iran's foreign policy, the policy toward Azerbaijan, as well as those evaluating the separate spheres of this policy and involving Iranian state bodies in certain events and policy toward Azerbaijan. I think we could come to an agreement."
He said the sides agreed to follow mutual respect, consent and non-interference in each other's affairs. "These three issues were discussed," he said. "In general, I coordinated my actions with the view that the Iranian state, the current Iranian political system and political regime have been operating for 33 years, basing on the will of its people and respecting its Constitution. The way of the country's existing, living and establishing its relations with the world well or badly, in any case, is Iranian people's choice and will."
He said that Azerbaijan is an independent country for 20 years. It has determined its own system of political governance, chosen the way of a secular state, democratic development. This choice is the will of the Azerbaijani people.
"Basing on the will of the Azerbaijani people, we build the Azerbaijani state, determine its relations on the international arena, manage its domestic policy," he said. "This is Azerbaijan's choice and it must be regarded carefully."
The relations between the two countries must be based on this, he said. "If you respect my values, I will respect you," he said. "If you do not interfere in my domestic affairs, I will not interfere either. I said during the talks that whatever we do in Azerbaijan, we do it basing on the will of the Azerbaijani people. We oppose the artificial introduction of any sects, religious groups, as well as various political, ideological, spiritual currents in Azerbaijan. They aim to create anarchy in Azerbaijan under the guise of democracy. We stop and will stop this."
He said this also applies to the information area. A secular and modern way of life is a choice and will of the Azerbaijani people, the requirement of the national ideology, Hasanov said.
In general, Azerbaijan does not have anti-Iranian propaganda at the state level. Iran does not have anti-Azerbaijani propaganda either, he said.
Certain circles sometimes voice various statements in the Azerbaijani society and in Iran. For example, a religious figure, a representative of the higher and lower layers of the clergy may make statements in Iran, but a historian, a political scientist may do this in Azerbaijan.
"The main purpose of my visit was to avoid turning statements of individuals, institutions and the press into a common tendency and the impact of this trend on our inter-state relations," he said. "This should not become a general trend and impact on bilateral relations."
