Iran's Caspian negotiator in Baku

The Iranian President's special negotiator on the status of the Caspian, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Mehti Safari, held talks with Azeri officials in Baku Tuesday. The visit aimed to exchange views on the issues to be discussed in a meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of the coastal nations in Moscow on December 17-18. The Iranian diplomat had been to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan before traveling to Baku.

Receiving M. Safari, President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and Iran are neighboring and friendly nations, but there are some outstanding issues in bilateral relations, which should be settled.

The Iranian negotiator said his country is interested in relations with Azerbaijan and aspires to expand them. Mr. Safari said he had discussed with Premier Rasizadeh and foreign minister Guliyev a number of economic projects, including the construction of the Baku-Astara highway and the North-South railway project and pointed to immense opportunities for cooperation in the area. He told the Azeri President that Iran is awaiting his visit to the country.

President Aliyev said he advocates the North-South project and attaches a greater importance to the construction of the Baku-Astara highway. Touching upon his Iranian visit, which has been many times postponed, the President said it would come true shortly.

In a meeting with Mr. Safari Tuesday, foreign minister Vilayat Guliyev said that the problems with the status of the Caspian should be resolved in conformity with international norms and voiced hope that the two countries would arrive at mutual understanding.

In his turn, the Iranian diplomat said he hoped for expansion of bilateral relations in all spheres and the deadlocked status of the Caspian to be resolved.*