Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani made statements for the press following the ceremony of signing documents in Baku Aug.7.

“We attach great importance to your visit,” President Aliyev said to his Iranian counterpart Rouhani.

“I am glad that the visit is going on very successfully. I am confident that the talks we have held today and the signed documents will ensure the future development of Iranian-Azerbaijani relations,” he added.

“Our peoples have been living side by side under the conditions of friendship and good neighborhood for centuries,” said President Aliyev. “The history, culture and religion which have united us for centuries, are our common great wealth.”

He pointed out that Iran and Azerbaijan build their bilateral relations on a solid basis.

“I am glad that Iranian-Azerbaijani interstate relations have been developing successfully for around 25 years,” said President Aliyev.

The latest period of development is especially important, since great progress has been achieved in the development of Iranian-Azerbaijani relations over the last several years, according to Azerbaijan’s president.

President Aliyev said that he has repeatedly met with his Iranian counterpart over the last several years, adding that reciprocal official visits are also very important steps taken in this sphere.

“I visited Iran in February 2016 and today, you are our guest. This itself is an indication,” said Azerbaijan’s president, adding that this shows that the relations are developing rapidly and dynamically and there are good results.

President Aliyev recalled that more than ten documents were signed during his official visit to Iran and in less than six months, the parties signed six more documents which are of great importance for the future cooperation of the two countries.

Azerbaijan’s president pointed out that the fulfillment of the documents and agreements signed in Iran in February is being ensured.

President Aliyev further said that Iran has always greatly respected Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and it supports Azerbaijan’s fair position in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

This support by Iran is seen both within the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ilham Aliyev said.

He said that the declaration adopted during the OIC summit in 2016 once again demands the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

“We praise Iran’s activities in this sphere,” he added.

“Today, I briefed President Rouhani about the current status of the conflict’s settlement process,” said President Aliyev.

“As we know, Azerbaijani territories have been under occupation for many years,” said the president. “Nagorno-Karabakh is a historical Azerbaijani land and today, not only Nagorno-Karabakh, but also seven surrounding districts are under occupation. Azerbaijani people were forcibly expelled from those lands. Our historical monuments, as well as mosques were destroyed by Armenians.”

President Aliyev pointed out that 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands are under occupation and this occupation continues.

The ways of settlement of the conflict are clear as well, he added.

“Armenian armed forces violating Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity should be withdrawn from the occupied lands as demanded by four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council,” said President Aliyev.

Further, the president said that Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan in April was condemned during the OIC summit in 2016 and a contact group was created for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

President Aliyev recalled that Armenian armed forces staged another armed provocation against Azerbaijan in April 2016.

“Our servicemen were killed as a result of this provocation,” he said.

Six civilians were killed, over 20 were injured, more than 600 houses were damaged and over 100 houses were completely destroyed as a result of Armenian provocation, added the president.

Azerbaijan had to take relevant steps in order to protect its citizens and lands and those steps were very effective, according to President Aliyev.

He pointed out that the decisions and resolutions adopted by international organizations on the conflict’s settlement should be fulfilled and Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity should be restored.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, in turn, said that Iran has always supported the territorial integrity of countries in the region, including Azerbaijan.

He stressed that Iran is against change of political borders in the region.

Iranian president further said that he has held talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart on the issue.

Iran believes that peace and stability should be established in the region, Rouhani said, adding all conflicts and problems between the countries should be settled through negotiations.

Iran as a neighbor of Azerbaijan and Armenia has always tried to pave ground to resolve the issues via dialogue, Rouhani said, adding that Iran will spare no effort in this regard.

Rouhani further said that the two sides have reached some agreements regarding to joint activities in Caspian Sea which can be an important step in the future of Tehran-Baku ties.

Rouhani also said that he has held talks with Ilham Aliyev regarding the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

/By Trend/