Karabakh Archives - Iran News Daily

Baku Welcomes Tehran Involvement in Reconstruction of Karabakh

mahla — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 20:20:51 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Azerbaijan Ambassador to Tehran Ali Alizadeh in meeting with Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce Gholam-Hossein Shafei announced readiness of his country for Iran’s cooperation in reconstruction of Karabakh, adding that construction of schools and hospitals in Karabakh has been handed over to Iranians and there are good opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

In the meeting, Alizadeh pointed to the good and amicable ties of Iran and Azerbaijan, noting that there is a close bond between the people of these two countries and Azerbaijan President has always attached great importance to the ties with Iran and has called for broadening it.

He added that economic and trade tie plays a pivotal role in strengthening the political cooperation between the two countries and Iran Chamber of Commerce is one of the most important chambers in Iran and he is interested in talking for reinforcing economic ties of the two states.

Alizadeh said that there are many commonalities between the two countries in the fields of energy and transportation, adding that last year Azerbaijan increased its trade balance by 30% and this figure has increased by 20% early this year.

He then pointed to some good agreements between the two countries in the field of gas transportation when he was in charge of Azerbaijan consulate in Tabriz. He added that Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have agreed to increase transportation among them, adding that another project that Azerbaijan is involved in it is the construction of Astara Bridge between borders of Iran and Azerbaijani.

On the resumption of direct flight between Tehran and Baku, he said that the pandemic is the main reason for the delay. He reiterated that Baku seeks construction of two new bridges which connect Azerbaijan to Nakhijavan via Iran.

He reiterated that resolving all problems hinge on political will of leaders of the two countries and it can lead to rise in economic, trade and transit cooperation via lands of the two states.

Alizadeh went on to say that last year some part of Azerbaijan land was liberated and it created new opportunities for activities of Azeri traders with Iran, adding that Baku calls on Iranian companies to help Azerbaijan in reconstruction of Karabakh, adding that construction of schools and hospitals has been handed over to Iranians.

He added that there are great opportunities for Iranian companies and this region is to turn into smart cities and villages, reiterating that in the fields of energy, transportation and trade there are good opportunities for cooperation and Baku is committed to cooperate.

Then Shafei, for his part, pointed to the commonalities between the two countries and there is less cultural difference between the nations of the two countries. He added that Azerbaijan has progressed considerably and then pointed to the grounds for cooperation between the two states.

He added that Iran and Azerbaijan should solve shortages and this can boost transit between Iran and Azerbaijan, adding that Tehran and Baku can have bilateral or trilateral cooperation in the field of energy.

Shafei also pointed to the issue of visas for Iranian traders and called for easing it. He added that Iran and Azerbaijan can cooperate in the field of tourism, adding that despite closeness of the two countries, traders are not aware of the economic capacities of the two countries.

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Baku welcomes Iran’s participation in Karabakh reconstruction

reporter 1222 — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 08:23:54 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Nowadays after the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, a new chapter is going to be opened in the relation of all regional countries, particularly between Tehran and Baku.

Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan share, to a large extent, the same history, religion, and culture.

Besides historical and cultural commonalities of the two countries, Iran recognized Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992. Both countries are full members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC).

Commonalities and joint interests of the two countries have functioned as the driving engine of the two countries’ ties. Relations between the two neighboring countries have gradually but significantly improved since 2013.

Nowadays after the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, a new chapter is going to be opened in the relation of all regional countries, particularly between Tehran and Baku.

During a visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan organized by GJC, a correspondent of Mehr News agency reached out to Tural Ganjaliyev, a member of Azerbaijan’s parliament and head of the Azerbaijani community in Azerbaijan’s Upper Karabakh region to discuss Tehran-Baku relation in the post-Karabakh war.

He noted that Azerbaijan is very keen on cooperation with all counties regarding the reconstruction process of the Karabakh region after the liberation of the region.

Referring to the liberation of some parts of Iran and Azerbaijan border areas which were under long-term occupation, Azeri Parliamentarian said that besides Karabakh Azeri side wants full-scale cooperation with Iran in reconstructing border areas in order to achieve more positive results.

He stressed, “Iran has always been our good neighbor and partner and we enjoy good cultural and historical commonalities, so we would like to see Iranian government and companies’ participation in the reconstruction of Karabakh.

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Iran ready rebuilding Nagorno-Karabakh

reporter 1222 — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 13:51:30 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Azerbaijan is scheduled to implement large-scale development and reconstruction projects in the liberated territories of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Azeri government has announced that it is to allocate $1.3 billion to this sector.

In his recent statements, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev invited companies from friendly countries to take an active part in the implementation of such projects in the named region.

In his recent visit to Tehran in December 2020, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev hailed Iran as a friendly country and a brotherly neighbor of Azerbaijan, saying his country holds strategic relations with the Islamic Republic.

During the visit, Mustafayev met with the Head of the Iranian Presidential Administration Mahmoud Vaezi, Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, and Defense and Armed Forces Support Minister Amir Hatami. In these meetings, besides political ties, he investigated possibilities of cooperation in the field of electricity in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories and the participation of Iranian companies in the restoration work were discussed.

Iran planning to gain share in regional (Azeri) market

Tehran is looking for a more highlighted presence and a bigger role in regional transit corridors for it believes it can have a main part in ensuring stable regional security.

Iran has recently exchanged views with Azerbaijan on issues of military-technical cooperation, as well.

Being warmly welcomed by the Azeri side, Iran has been improving novel policies for fortifying its presence and participation in economic, trade, reconstruction, and development projects in Azerbaijan. The Islamic Republic has expressed its readiness to share with Azerbaijan its experience and capabilities in the field of mines and explosives defusing in the liberated territories.

As one of its major policies Iranian government seeks to define new multilateral partnerships with regional countries, to complete semi-finished corridors, i.e., the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor, in a bid to improve, accelerate and facilitate regional trade.

In the past two years, Iran has prioritized transit and transportation projects with both national and international functions to lubricate the country’s connection with neighboring nations. Tehran has also sought the establishment of multilateral transport partnerships with regional countries.

Accordingly, the Iranian ministry of foreign affairs is paying special attention to this area and has started improving its cooperation with Iranian ministries of road, finance, and trade as well as the private sector and commerce chambers on the way to hit the set targets and beat the regional rivals.

Along with the Iranian government come the domestic companies and the private sector that are inclined and resolved to have a share in the technical and engineering market of the region, including Azerbaijan. The northern neighbor enjoys oil reserves and high incomes, therefore, with low investment risks. In better words, Azerbaijan seems a lucrative target market and a haven for Iranian companies.

Iranian firms active in construction, hardware, and software are well-equipped to renovate the freed parts of Karabakh by their experienced workforce.

They have a brilliant history in implementing major development projects in different countries including Iraq, Pakistan, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Syria, etc. They have worked in other countries as independent contractors or under the framework of consortiums with foreign partners.

It is worth noting that they act self-sufficiently in accomplishing road, railway, and port development and construction projects relying on Iranian technicians and engineers and domestically produced machinery.

This is while the Islamic Republic is a major producer of construction materials such as cement, steel, rebar, aluminum, as well as heavy-duty vehicles, and construction machinery, etc. that is an advantage in Iran’s participation with any foreign countries.

In addition to the technical issues, Iran and Azerbaijan enjoy geographical adjacency as well as warm political ties. Compared with other countries’ applicants, having a share in the renovation of Karabakh, the geographical adjacency gives Iran an upper hand due to the ease of transporting equipment, machinery, and workforce with lower costs.

Iran-Azerbaijan collaboration on the reconstruction of Karabakh can be win-win cooperation for both sides. Reconstruction of these areas can serve the political and economic interests of both parties.

The presence of the Iranian companies and exporters of engineering services in Azerbaijan can strengthen the economic relationship and strategic and political relations between Tehran and Yerevan.

Strengthening political ties is for sure a prerequisite for the economic presence of Iran in Azerbaijan for diplomatic ties would act as a lubricant for economic relations.

Iran major peace-supporter in region

Reconstruction of the liberated areas of Nagorno-Karabakh can lead to regional development as well as long-lasting stability and security.

Iran has always respected the long-term interests of all regional countries, in particular those of its neighbors, their sovereignty, principles, and standards considering the international regulations.

In the recent war between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, took a clear stance towards the issue noting that the main solution to the problem is a return of all occupied lands of Azerbaijan by Armenia and “this must be done and international borders must be respected.” He underscored that the security of ethnic Armenians in the occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh must be protected.

The point is that Iran seeks not only short-term interests but also peace and security in the region in the long run.

Iran forever gateway of Armenia & Azerbaijan to PG, Sea of Oman

Under the current circumstances, some experts discuss the possibility of the construction of future corridors to link Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and to connect Nakhichevan with the Republic of Azerbaijan, in case the signed peace pact would calm down the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Presently, in addition to using the internal corridor of the former Soviet Union, the Republic of Azerbaijan is using the transit route via Iran to get access to Nakhichevan and as experts believe, the case would not change if the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would be resolved i.e. Iran would remain a safe route for Azerbaijan.

Peace settled, Iran would be converted into a golden gateway for both Yerevan and Baku to get access to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman via rail and road through the Iranian soil.

Moreover, peace secured between Azerbaijan and Armenia leaves no reason for opportunist transregional countries including the Zionist regime to continue presence in the northern neighboring regions.

Certainly, the Zionist regime will not have a place in this region in case of peace and it will be isolated but in war and conflict, zionists can find a chance to keep the fire of war warm by selling weapons to the parties and find an excuse for being present in the region.

Zionists’ presence besides the presence of Takfiri terrorists is considered a big threat to regional security.

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Zarfi reveals some aspects of Iran’s initiative over Karabakh

reporter 1222 — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 06:20:09 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Speaking to IRIB on Sunday mourning, Zarif said that Iran has been in talks with regional countries such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, and Turkey from the start of tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

“We believe that the war will inflict most damages on regional countries and so these countries can have the most influence on ending the war. In this framework, and without any effort to compete with other mechanisms such as Minsk, we pursued these dialogues and aims,” added the minister.

“One of the important features of our plan is that it does not solely relate to a temporary ceasefire, rather it pursues moving towards solving the differences based on a framework that will start by both sides’ committing to some principles and then it will continue with other measures, especially withdrawal of occupying forces from all occupied territories,” he said.

“Ensuring people’s rights”, “establishing commuting paths”, and “regional countries’ monitoring over the process of implementing the peace plan” are among other aspects of Tehran’s initiative, according to Zarif.

“Zarfi reveals some aspects of Iran’s initiative over Karabakh”

He noted that Deputy FM Araghchi has offered the plan to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, and Turkey and that Iran is now awaiting these countries’ response to it.

Zarif also reiterated that Iran will not tolerate the presence of terrorists near its borders.

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Azerbaijan Apologizes for Shells Hit Iran: Commander

reporter 1222 — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 07:43:42 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The Republic of Azerbaijan has apologized to Iran for a number of artillery shells and rockets that have hit the Iranian soil amid the war with Armenia, an Iranian commander said.

Speaking to reporters in the northwestern city of Tabriz on Wednesday, Deputy Commander of Iranian Police Brigadier General Qassem Rezaee expressed regret at the deaths following the recent escalation of armed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

He also noted the Iranian border guards have officially given warnings to the two warring sides after a number of artillery shells and rockets fell in Iran unwittingly, adding that both sides have admitted to have made a mistake.

General Rezaee said he has held a meeting with the Azeri officials at the border to remind them of the necessary issues, noting that they have offered their apologies.

The Azeri and Armenian forces have promised to correct their firing angle to prevent any harm to Iranian farmers, workers and residents of the border areas, he added.

On Tuesday, Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami cautioned the warring parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that Tehran will take measures stronger than warnings if the shells fired in the fighting continue to hit Iranian territories.

“The lives of citizens and the security of the holy soil of Islamic Iran are vital and significant issues, and it is by no means acceptable that bullets hit our country’s territory due to carelessness,” Hatami said.

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Lukashenko: No Weapons Supplied to Karabakh Parties in 6 Months

reporter 1222 — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 08:58:02 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told his Armenian counterpart, Armen Sarkissian that Belarus has supplied weapons neither to Azerbaijan nor to Armenia in the recent six months, BelTA agency reported on Monday after their telephone conversation.

According to BelTA, the conversation was initiated by the Armenian leader. The two presidents discussed the socio-economic and political situation in Belarus and Armenia. Sarkissian informed the Belarusian leader about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, TASS reported.

Special attention was drawn by the Armenian president to recent media reports about alleged supplies of military cargoes from Belarus to Azerbaijan. “A clear response was given to this fake information – no supplies of military cargoes have been done either to Azerbaijan or to Armenia in the recent six months,” BelTA said.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.

In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs – Russia, France and the United States.

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Iranian Official Urges Negotiations to Karabakh Dispute

reporter 1222 — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 07:11:24 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian President’s Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi called for a peaceful solution to the dispute in the Karabakh region after an escalation of tensions between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In a telephone conversation with foreign policy advisor to the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hikmat Hajiyev on Sunday, Vaezi said Iran’s formal stance on the conflicts and disputes is “supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of the nations.

“Tensions in the region would certainly not be in the interest of any country, and we favor stability, development, and progress for all countries, particularly the Republic of Azerbaijan,” he added.

The Iranian president’s chief of staff further stressed the need for the settlement of Karabakh dispute through peaceful solutions and dialogue.

“As a friendly country and neighbor, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood by the Republic of Azerbaijan’s government and nation and attaches significance to the promotion of ties with that country,” Vaezi added.

For his part, Hajiyev commended Iran for its clear stances on international conflicts and its respect for the sovereignty of nations, saying, “Iran, as a very important and influential country in the region, has a major role in the settlement of regional problems and disputes.”

He also highlighted Baku’s willingness to boost relations with Tehran in various fields, particularly the economic ties.

Azerbaijan and Armenia, two former Soviet republics, have for decades been locked in a simmering conflict over Karabakh – an Azerbaijani territory seized by Armenian separatists in a bloody war in the 1990s.

Some 30,000 people were killed in the conflict, which ended with a fragile truce in 1994. The two sides are still technically at war and have yet to reach a permanent peace agreement on the issue.

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