"Azerbaijan and Iran are fraternal nations and states"

The links between Azerbaijan and Iran are friendly, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in his interview with Azerbaijan's Lider TV channel.

"Azerbaijan and Iran are fraternal nations and states. Our links are on a very good level. At the present time our relations in the area of economy, policy and culture are developing", Ahmadinejad said.

The visit of Iranian president to Azerbaijan is to begin on November 17. Within the visit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is also to take part on the summit of Caspian littoral states' leaders on November 18 in Baku.

The annual trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran is $ 550 million. The officials of both states wish to increase primarily the annual trade turnover till $ 1 billion. Ahmadinejad said that both states are Muslim ones and the relations between them will be developing more.

"There is no obstacle in the links between two countries. I am foreseeing very good future perspective of relations between two countries and they are profitable for peoples of both states", Iranian president said.

Ahmadinejad said that political and cultural links between Iran and Azerbaijan are on the high level.

"Our economical relations are also developing. For the development of relations in various spheres, areas of energy, trade and joint investments very good projects are developed and their implementation is preparing. Both states are interested in the development of relations and support it. Entrepreneurs and investors must try more and begin the fulfillment of the works", Iranian president said.

Regarding the issue on the determination of the status of the Caspian Sea Ahmadinejad declared that discussions among five littoral countries in line with the legal status of Caspian Sea are held and this is a somewhat strained issue.

"The legal status of the Caspian Sea, political and economical issues are discussed. These issues must be considered reasonably and at ease. At Tehran summit we understood that the Caspian littoral states strive for the settlement of the issue. Good works have been done so far. The agreement on many issues relevant to the ecology has been achieved. I hope that at Baku summit documents will be signed and also works will be exercised in the direction of the elaboration of additional documents. Preparatory works relevant to the legal status of the Caspian Sea are commenced. I hope that at Baku summit big steps in line with the legal status of the Caspian Sea will be taken", Iranian president underlined.

On November 18, in Baku the third summit of Caspian littoral states' leaders is to open. The presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Russia and Turkmenistan are to take part at the summit. During the summit the signing of the agreement on the cooperation in the sphere of security in the Caspian Sea is planned.

Ahmadinejad consider that, politically, the security of the Caspian Sea is more important.

"I think there is a mutual agreement among the states that the Caspian Sea must be the sea of friendship and peace. Everybody agree that foreigners should not interfere in Caspian issues. At Tehran summit the agreement about the inadmissibility of one state's application of military threatening against another one was achieved", Ahmadinejad said.

In November 2003, the Caspian littoral countries (Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea.


/Trend/