BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 20. Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova met with Speaker of Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly (ICA), Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, who is visiting Baku to attend the 15th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), the parliamentary press service told TurkicWorld.
The press service stated that during the meeting, it was highlighted that Baku hosted the plenary session at an exceptionally high level, with such events being recognized as key platforms for addressing a variety of global issues and offering a valuable opportunity to strengthen relations among the organization's member states.
"The two officials expressed confidence that this visit by Ghalibaf would contribute to the development of bilateral relations. It was also highlighted that Azerbaijan and Iran share common historical, religious, and cultural values, which form the foundation of the current relationship and provide a solid basis for further cooperation.
Gafarova pointed out President Ilham Aliyev's views on Azerbaijan's foreign policy principles, which include friendship, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, adherence to international obligations, and mutual respect.
Ghalibaf emphasized the importance of the APA plenary session held in Baku and the relevance of the decisions under discussion. He noted that Iran is keen on developing relations with all its neighboring countries, with Azerbaijan occupying a special place in this policy. He expressed confidence that future efforts would intensify to expand cooperation between the two nations in various fields.
The two sides also discussed expanding ties between their parliaments as a key aspect of interstate relations and cooperation within international parliamentary organizations.
In addition, they talked about new opportunities and prospects in the South Caucasus region, highlighting the significance of the '3+3' cooperation format initiated by Azerbaijan. Both parties agreed that the involvement of foreign non-regional forces could be detrimental to regional stability. Ghalibaf voiced full support for the '3+3' platform and expressed confidence that it would contribute to peace, stability, and the development of political and economic cooperation in the region.
The importance of transportation corridors in the region, particularly the "North-South" corridor and road links connecting Eastern Zangazur with Nakhchivan, was also underscored during the meeting.
The discussions concluded with an exchange of opinions on other matters of mutual interest," the press service said.
