Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 12 / Trend T. Jafarov /
Establishing friendly, neighborly, political, economic and cultural relations at a high level with the neighboring countries, especially with Azerbaijani brothers, is the basis of Iran's foreign policy, Iran's new ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pak Ayeen said in an interview with Trend today.
"Iran and Azerbaijan are the owners of a joint history and culture," he said. "This joint cultural heritage contributes to further rapprochement and cooperation between the two countries. Most Azerbaijanis are Shia Muslims. Azerbaijanis living in Azerbaijan and Iran, speak the same language."
"Despite there were ups and downs despite in the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan over the past 20 years, they are nice and friendly," he said. "The leaders of the two countries have personal relations and friendly ties. The bilateral official visits are organized at a high level."
"The activity of the joint economic commission of the two countries contributes to further strengthening of mutual relations in the economic sphere," he said.
"The trade turnover between our countries is $500 million," he said. "If one calculates entry, departure and trade between the border areas of both countries, one can say that the volume of trade turnover is close to 1 billion euro. Of course, this figure is unsatisfactory. We hope that it will increase due to the planned work."
"Iran carries out swap supplies of Azerbaijani gas for the needs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic," he said. "The two countries have good relations in trade, energy and transit areas."
The ambassador said that Iran has eliminated unilateral visa regime for Azerbaijani citizens. This has expanded the relations between the two peoples and developed the tourism (traveling for the purpose of treatment and visit).
"The Committee on Political Consultations was established between the two countries in a political sphere," he said. "Deputy foreign ministers meet in Tehran or Baku every six months and discuss the issues of interest to both countries to solve the problems. The trilateral meetings of Iranian, Azerbaijani and Turkish foreign ministers are held regularly. The days of culture were held in Tehran and Baku. The figures of culture of the two countries have close relations, especially these relations are wide in cinema, music, theater, miniature, painting, calligraphy."
"The negotiations on the Caspian Sea are underway between the two countries.
"The talks between the two countries in the sphere of the legal status of the Caspian Sea have a powerful force for five-party talks between the Caspian-littoral countries," he said. "Iran is continuing its consultations with the Caspian-littoral countries on this issue. We hope that these negotiations will be finally completed by determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea."
The relations between Tehran and Baku have the potential to rise to a level that can be an example for other countries, he added.
Iran and Azerbaijan are allies
Of course, the Iranian and Azerbaijani people and their countries are allies and friends, the ambassador said.
"Certainly, sometimes the two countries have several problems, some of which appear under the influence of external factors because some countries do not want to see the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan," he added. "This issue is connected not only with Azerbaijan. Some forces are trying for the relations between Iran and other countries especially neighboring ones, to deteriorate. Fortunately, the wise leaders of the two countries do not allow the interference of external factors. Moreover, the neighborhood and the long border between the two countries lead to the clash of opinions."
The diplomat added that the clash of opinions between the two brothers is natural. It is also natural and expected between the two countries.
"The most important thing is to try to eliminate the causes of intensifying these differences, to properly manage the factors having the clash of opinions and to give preference to the points of mutual understanding. Of course, there are forces hostile toward Iran and Azerbaijan. They spread rumors, abuse historical, moral and emotional factors to create concern and tensions between the two countries. Sometimes they raise the issue about North and South Azerbaijan. Sometimes they argue about Iran's claims for Azerbaijani lands. This is wrong. This information was formed on the basis of incorrect statements."
The ambassador said that Iran and Azerbaijan are two friendly and brotherly countries. They have certain geographical boundaries. They officially recognize the borders of each other. They also know those spreading these rumors. They demonstrate the thoughtful attitude in these situations.
"I think that the responsibility of different bodies of the two countries, in particular the Iranian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministries is to combat the factors that cause the differences between the two peoples, to create an atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust," he said.
"The two leaders' will has focused on the development of friendly relations. We must develop this will in other areas. Certainly, the media can play an important role in this sphere in terms of its specificity and total impact. I think that the expansion of the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan is useful not only for the two countries but also for the region."
Iran's position on Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been continuing for 20 years," the ambassador said.
"Azerbaijan and Armenia have chosen the mechanism of the Minsk Group to resolve this conflict. They do not use other mechanisms. I think that the Minsk Group is biased in the conflict. For this reason, the efforts of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict failed. Minsk group's policy is to prolong the conflict and sometimes promises that the issue will be resolved in a 20-year period. This is not in the interests of Azerbaijan and the region's security. I think that the regional countries must join the process of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, because the countries beyond the region do not have a strong will to resolve this issue."
He added that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's participation may be useful in the conflict settlement.
"As the country chairing the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as an active member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Iran is ready to mediate in the conflict," he added. "Iran is ready to assist in the conflict settlement, to return the situation to its previous condition and mutual recognition of borders. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict occurs near the Iranian borders. Of course, the tension in the region worries us. If we can assist in resolving the conflict, we will not spare our efforts."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Iran and Azerbaijan plan to exchange prisoners
"Iran and Azerbaijan have signed an agreement to exchange prisoners, the Iranian ambassador said. "The two countries exchanged the prisoners at various periods. This work will be continued in the future. Iran and Azerbaijan are neighbors. Sometimes there are illegal border crossing between the two countries. The two countries' problem is to combat drugs.
These drugs are often brought to the region from several other countries, including Afghanistan. The presence of prisoners in the two countries is natural. At present, there are around 200 Iranian prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons and around 50 Azerbaijanis - in Iranian prisons. The negotiations are underway to continue exchanging the prisoners within the agreement. It will be conducted in the near future."