Statement by President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Mr. President.

Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Mr. President, I would like to once again sincerely welcome you to Azerbaijan! I am confident that your visit will make a valuable contribution to the development of Azerbaijan-Iran friendly and brotherly relations.

Our peoples have lived in an amicable and fraternal atmosphere for centuries. Our interstate relations are developing based on this solid foundation today. The official visit of the Iranian President to Azerbaijan is a manifestation of the high level of our relations.

During our talks and exchange of views earlier today, we discussed many important issues, expressed our views and further reaffirmed the strategic relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. We spoke on all the issues in a sincere atmosphere. Most importantly, both sides are and should be working to develop Azerbaijan-Iran relations. The arrival of the honorable President in Azerbaijan with a large delegation and signing of a number of important documents today, including the document signed at the presidential level, once again demonstrates our goodwill and highlights our efforts to grow closer in all areas.

We traditionally support each other within international organizations. We exchanged views on this today and discussed future frameworks for cooperation. Whether it is the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, ECO, the Non-Aligned Movement or any other organization, our representatives always stand by each other.

We are working on a broad agenda today. Regional security plays an important role here, and we exchanged views on this. At the same time, there are excellent conditions for multilateral cooperation. Of course, specific instructions have been given regarding the development of our trade relations. The meeting with the participation of delegations was also very productive. Initially, the honorable President and I exchanged views during a one-on-one and limited format meeting. In other words, our primary goal is to raise Azerbaijan-Iran interstate relations to a higher level. For this reason, I repeat, appropriate instructions have been given, and I am confident that these instructions will be implemented.

Before the President's visit, we maintained very active contacts, our high-ranking officials made reciprocal visits both in the run-up to the President's visit and for the implementation of specific projects. I would like to express my gratitude to all the officials who contributed to this work. The visit was indeed very well prepared. Very good documents were prepared. I am confident that the decisions made will guide our relations toward continued growth for many years to come

Today, we discussed trilateral cooperation projects in detail as well. Among these, the North-South transportation corridor undoubtedly holds a special significance. This project will bring enormous benefits to all the countries involved in it. Azerbaijan has implemented all the necessary infrastructure projects for the operation of this transportation corridor across its territory. Currently, we are simply expanding our transport capabilities and infrastructure, taking into account the increased cargo volume. Whether through seaports, railways, or road transport, we have initiated major investment projects in all these sectors to handle and transfer the expected large volumes of cargo.

At the same time, we have issued specific instructions to continue nurturing our traditional friendly relations in the humanitarian and cultural spheres. We noted that the last mutual cultural days were held eight years ago, and, based on a joint decision, we will organize these cultural exchange events in the near future. Our peoples share a common history and culture. For centuries, we have lived in the same region, united under a single state. In other words, our bond is deeply rooted. Today, as two independent nations, we continue to play a significant role in our region.

The resolution of regional issues by the countries within the region is also the shared stance and policy of both sides.

I have no doubt that this visit will play a very important role in the development of our relations. We were looking forward to President Pezeshkian’s visit. We are very sorry that the tragedy that occurred in Iran a few days ago resulted in human losses. Once again, we express our condolences to the brotherly Iranian people. May Allah have mercy on those who died and grant recovery to those injured. Despite this tragedy, President Pezeshkian is making his visit to Azerbaijan. We appreciate this very much.

May Allah protect our peoples from such hardships. May peace and tranquility always prevail in our region, allowing both countries to continue their efforts in this direction. In any case, within the bilateral framework, we prioritized issues such as the situation in the region, the sustainability of peace, ensuring security, and upholding principles like sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of nations.

I would like to say “Welcome!” to President Pezeshkian again. I would also like to express my gratitude for accepting my invitation to visit Azerbaijan. I would also like to say “Welcome!” to all our guests who are here along with Mr. President, I am confident that your visit will be a success and yield excellent results. Thank you.

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Statement by President Masoud Pezeshkian

- First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to my dear brother, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev for the warm welcome, hospitality and care shown to us, and for the steps we will take in our bilateral relations with the region, with Azerbaijan and in general, and for the determination to expand and deepen cooperation in all possible areas.

Our relations are not newly established. We have always been together since ancient times. We have been together, side by side since time immemorial. The border means neighborhood, like a neighborhood of houses. Neighbors have yards and homes. But they visit each other. They support each other, help each other, and respond to each other’s calls.

We have similar aspects in all these areas in this region, such as culture, religion, faith, and politics. We are proud of this. We are sincerely attached to them. We will try to continue our relations based on these common values. We can share the experience gained in many areas. We can jointly use our markets in this region. Based on the agreements reached and the documents signed today, esteemed President Ilham Aliyev has instructed relevant ministers and officials to prepare a strategic plan for the future within a certain period of time.

We, for our part, have instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with the government and continue these steps. We will try to have a broad, comprehensive and better strategic plan for the future. We will have plans in all areas – industry, science, culture, economy, politics, and security. Together we will build peace, security and tranquility in the region and overcome our difficulties. I am sure that if we, Muslim countries, regional states and neighbors, brothers and sisters who have been together since ancient times, join hands and respect each other's territorial integrity, our views on the world will also be mutually agreed upon.

So, we can cooperate in all areas. We have the potential to create a region and establish connections between countries that could surpass the relations seen between European nations. To do this, let us connect the roads, improve our financial and trade relations, create the North-South and East-West corridors. Let us do all this through mutual support. Let our entrepreneurs engage in joint production processes, make shared investments, and establish businesses together. We must act together in the fields of production, science, culture, economy, and politics, without allowing others to disrupt them. If they want to create discord between us, we will not allow that to happen. We have many common factors that bring us together, even family and kinship ties. This is a matter no one can disrupt.

My dear brother, President Ilham Aliyev demonstrates great determination and resolve. We, on our part, based on our faith, determination and perseverance, will expand on all the achievements made with the help of Allah and implement the documents we have undertaken. There are several points that have not yet been formalized, but we must also document, sign, and ensure their implementation. We are determined to implement and execute them. I see the same determination on the part of our brother. Allah willing, we will create other projects together for the region, for the future of Iran and Azerbaijan, and even for the broader Middle East.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to my dear brother for this hospitality once again. Due to some events happening in our country, I cannot stay here for much longer. However, it will not be long before we meet again. I will try to stay in Azerbaijan for longer next time. Here, I never feel as though I am in a foreign country. It feels as if I am in Tabriz or Ardabil, as though we are in Iranian Azerbaijan, where we were born, raised, and continue to live. I am very happy to be here with you today. Let us join hands in the economic, cultural, scientific, security, military, and other fields and build a solid future for ourselves, for our children and for future generations. May future generations be proud of us for having built such a sound relationship.

I thank you once again.