Azerbaijani official stresses expansion of relations with Iran

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department Chief Ali Hasanov stressed Saturday on expansion of relations with Iran, adding that nothing can hurt good relations between the two neighboring countries. “Iran and Azerbaijan are neighboring countries with common history and culture,” he told reporters. The information publicized by the Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security is absolutely not an action directed against the Iranian state, Azerbaijani presidential administration social and political department chief noted. He was expressing his attitude toward detention in Azerbaijan of a group of people accused of espionage activity against an Iranian revolutionary organization. The official believes it will not have a negative impact on the Iranian-Azerbaijani inter-state relations. 'Azerbijan Republic would try to keep good relations with Iran and prevent the use of its territory against other states including Iran' he noted. At the same time Hasanov stressed that sometimes, both in Iran and Azerbaijan, the various circles, some members of society take steps affecting the relations between the two countries. He called materials of some journalists as an example of such activities. Following a statement released by Azerbaijan Republic Security Ministry in which an Iranian revolutionary organization has been accused, the ambassador of that country was summoned to Foreign Ministry. Azerbaijan Republic Ambassador to Tehran Javanshir Akhundov received Iran’s protest to his government. In the meeting, the accusations were rejected and it was said that the Azerbaijan Republic action was in contradiction with agreement between foreign ministers of both countries on the sidelines of Nakhchivan meeting, around 10 days ago, as well as last week agreement between Defense Ministers of the two countries. It was also said that the Zionist regime is trying to charge similar accusations against Iran in different countries. The ambassador was also told that Iranian officials are strongly dissatisfied that Azerbaijan Republic has entered into this Zionist game. Akhundov declared his country's political intention to expand ties with Iran and said that he will convey Iran’s reaction to his government. This week as a result of a special operation conducted by the Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security, a group of 22 individuals was revealed and detained. It is accused of espionage activity against Azerbaijan on the instructions of an Iranian revolutionary organization. Iran has an embassy in Baku and a consulate-general in the autonomous republic of Nakhichevan. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Tehran and a consulate-general in Tabriz. Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since the latter's independence from the former Soviet Union. The two countries have a majority Shia population and share many cultural commonalities. The Islamic Republic of Iran has made extensive mediation efforts to settle the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh.