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Iran, Azerbaijan serious to expand defensive, security cooperation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, April 20, IRNA -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and his Azeri counterpart Zaker Hassanov in Baku on Monday underlined expansion of Tehran-Baku defensive and security cooperation.

The two sides held talks on bilateral, regional and international issues after official welcoming ceremony to the Iranian minister.

Dehqan expressed pleasure with regular meetings and consultations between the two countries' senior officials.

He welcomed meeting of Iranian and Azeri heads of state held to prepare the ground for promotion of bilateral ties.

Dehqan said that the Iranian and Azeri governments adopted joint stand and collective efforts on security issues and to turn the threats to opportunity.

He expressed concern about aggravating security situation in the region and the world and growing danger of terrorism and insecurity and emphasized defensive and military cooperation between Tehran and Baku.

The Iranian minister said that the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the Azeri territorial integrity and settlement of Karabakh issue with the Armenian republic through diplomatic negotiations.

He cautioned the Azeri and Armenian governments against escalation of tension and hostility in the region over Karabakh.

Dehqan said ultra-regional countries' lack of political determination for settlement of Karabakh conflict is in line with the goal to ensure their influence in the regional states.

'The Islamic Republic of Iran once again announces its readiness to help peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.'

The Iranian official outlined diversified potentials of Iranian defense ministry in various domains and emphasized defensive, military and technical cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan.

'Expansion of the cooperation will play very important and constructive role in establishment of peace, stability and security of the region.'

He underlined defensive and security cooperation among the Caspian Sea littoral states in various fields, including campaign against terrorism, extremism, drug-trafficking within framework of a coalition and treaty.

Zaker Hassanov for his part praised defensive and technological might and capacity of Iranian armed forces and said, 'We observed such a power in the glorious parade of the Islamic Republic Army on April 18 and are proud of it.'

He said Iranian and Azeri heads of state are firm to expand cooperation.

The Minister suggested formation of joint defense-military committee, headed by Iranian and Azeri defense ministers, saying it is an import move to expedite implementation of the mutually reached agreements.

He pointed out that Azeri president's emphasis on upgrading ties testifies special status of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the mind of the Azeri officials.

Dehqan is on an official Azerbaijan visit at the invitation of his counterpart.

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