Iran interested in discussing regional cooperation format proposed by Azerbaijan - FM
BAKU. Jan 25 (Interfax) - Iran is interested in the development of regional cooperation and will discuss collaboration in a format proposed by the Azerbaijani president last December with all regional countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at negotiations in Baku.
"Within the framework of the visit, I'll discuss our vision of the world and will try to put it into practice," Zarif said at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Monday, adding that all countries are interested in developing regional cooperation.
It had been reported earlier that Zarif intended to make a tour of Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Turkey.
Negotiating with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Baku on December 10, Aliyev proposed creating a unified cooperation platform for all of the region's countries. He said the most conventional cooperation in the region has long been maintained in a trilateral format between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and yet cooperation in other trilateral formats has also existed, particularly in the Azerbaijan-Iran-Russia and in the Turkey-Russia-Iran formats.
Meeting with Zarif on Monday, Aliyev said Azerbaijan is content with the level of its cooperation with Iran, the two countries have an extensive common agenda, and have discussed numerous issues. In particular, the parties are negotiating the arrangement of new transport ties and cooperation on the Khudaferin Water Reservoir.
"Our future plans on building a power plant are in a very active phase already. I hope we'll be able to complete this project within the next few years and ensure that both sides have enough electric power owing to new generation. The construction of the Ordubad and Marazad power plants is also being successfully implemented," Aliyev said.
