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Irano-Azeri DMs met for defense cooperation

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  • Irano-Azeri DMs met for defense cooperation

    Irano-Azeri DMs met for defense cooperation

    IranMania, Iran
    Dec 23 2004

    LONDON, Dec 23 (IranMania) - Defense Ministers of Iran and Azerbaijan
    met and conferred on Wednesday evening about regional armies`
    cooperation to boost joint security in Caucasus region.

    Islamic Republic of Iran`s Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani
    referred to the two nations` shared historical, religious and cultural
    backgrounds during the meeting, considering them the "huge capital
    that can serve to boost bilateral ties."

    He referred to the deep bilateral understanding and mutual trust,
    as well as comprehensive defense and security consultations, as main
    prerequisites for establishment of a comprehensive bilateral defense
    cooperation. Shamkhani added, "Joint efforts aimed at boosting
    regional peace and stability is the main axis for Iran-Azerbaijan
    comprehensive cooperation."

    The Iranian Defense Minister said, "Presently terrorism, narcotic
    drugs and arms smuggling, organized crime, and vast presence of foreign
    forces are biggest threats against regional security and such threats
    cannot be eliminated, except through effective regional cooperation
    and constant consultative interactions."

    Elsewhere in his remarks, stressing that the Islamic Republic of
    Iran considers the Caspian Sea the "sea of peace and friendship",
    Shamkhani added, "This region`s security is in need of collective
    cooperation and mutual trust." Elaborating on Iran`s stand about
    Karabakh conflict, Rear Admiral Shamkhani said, "Iran favors

    peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict and is ready to continue
    its mediation efforts in that regard."

    He referred to President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami`s state visit of
    Azerbaijan and President Elham Aliev`s upcoming state visit to Tehran
    as beset signs of both countries` officials` strong determination to
    take advantage of all opportunities at service of boosting ties."

    The Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiev, too, appreciated his country`s
    ever-improving ties and cooperation with Iran and considered the
    Iranian Defense Minister`s visit of Baku "a very effective move in
    further strengthening bilateral ties."

    He emphasized, "Late Azeri President Geidar Aliev`s 2002 state visit of
    Iran opened a new chapter in Tehran-Baku relations, agreeing with his
    Iranian counterpart on the point that shared historical and cultural
    backgrounds of the two nations serve as an excellent foundation for
    boosting comprehensive ties."

    Abiev added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran was among the first
    countries in the world to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan
    Republic and the Azeri nation will never forget that."

    The Azerbaijan Republic is situated in eastern Transcaucasia, on
    the western coast of the Caspian Sea. To the South it borders Iran,
    to the West Armenia, to the North-West Georgia, and to the North the
    Republic of Dagestan, in Russia.

    The Nakhichevan autonomous Republic is a part of Azerbaijan, although
    it is separated form the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory.
    Azerbaijan also includes the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast,
    which is largely populated by the Armenians, but does not legally
    constitute a part of Armenia.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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