Iran, Azerbaijan stress readiness to hold joint economic commission meeting

High-ranking Iranian and Azeri officials in a meeting in Baku underlined the two countries' readiness to further expand their bilateral trade ties, and announced their preparedness to hold a meeting of Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission. The issue was raised at a meeting between Iranian Ambassador to Baku Mohsen Pakayeen and Azeri Minister of Economy and Industry Shahin Mustafayev on Saturday. During the meeting, Mustafayev, who is also the head of the Azeri delegation in the meetings of the two countries' Joint Economic Commission, pointed to the abundant capacities and potentials for mutual cooperation, and announced the Azeri side's readiness to host the Commission meeting soon in future. Pakayeen, for his part, said that Iran's Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Vae'zi is due to preside over the Iranian delegation at the Commission meetings, and hoped for imminent positive results for both states through the meetings. Iran and Azerbaijan have been attempting in recent years to start a new chapter in their bilateral ties and cooperation as two Muslim neighboring states. Earlier this month, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev called for the further consolidation of relations between Tehran and Baku, and warned of enemies' plots to sow discord between them. During the meeting in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei described the two countries' neighborhood and religious, cultural and historical ties as effective factors at the service of further strengthening of bilateral relations, and said, "The relations between the two nations and the two governments should become stronger with the passage of each new day." He said that strengthening of the governments' relations with their nations and their religious beliefs guarantees their success. Ayatollah Khamenei warned that there are some tendencies that are after promotion of religious extremism and sowing the seeds of discord among the followers of different Islamic schools of thought. "Such tendencies should not be permitted to achieve their objectives, including disturbing countries? national unity." "The current level of the two countries? transactions is very low keeping in mind the two sides? capacities and broad potentials and I hope this visit would serve as a prelude for a broad economic and regional cooperation," he reiterated. Ayatollah Khamenei said that some, including the Zionist regime, are not pleased with the strengthening of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan and keep disrupting its process, but relying on serious and resolute political will such intrigues will defeat. President Aliyev, for his part, underlined that the atmosphere of the bilateral negotiations is very constructive, and added, "The joint Iran-Azerbaijan commission began its activities right today and this visit will serve as a platform for the improvement of comprehensive relation, including in industrial, commercial, transportation, and tourism fields." He said that religious extremism and the need to counter it is among the shared serious concerns of both countries. President Aliyev also referred to the historical and cultural relations between the two countries, stressing Baku's strong and resolute will for the expansion of comprehensive relations with Tehran.