Asia

Home page

Asia

Iranian Deputy FM: â€œ70 per cents of the problems related to the legal status of the Caspian Sea are solvedâ€ - INTERVIEW

Iranian Deputy FM: â€œ70 per cents of the problems related to the legal status of the Caspian Sea are solvedâ€ - <font color=red>INTERVIEW</font>

20 April 2010 03:33 (UTC +04:00)

Tehran. Suleiman Farzaliyev â€“ APA. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ramin Mehmanparast gave an exclusive interview to APA.

- How do you appraise the current relationships between Iran and Azerbaijan?

- Azerbaijan is our neighboring country, therefore we attach a great importance to cooperation with this country. We have the historical, cultural and religious relations. The most of the population of Iran and Azerbaijan has the kindred ties. We donâ€™t consider two countries different from each other. We try to work on new projects targeted to development and deepening the relationships between two nations. Development of the regional countries is a purpose of our activity as well. I hope, weâ€™ll keep on our cooperation thanks to close connection between the heads of two countries.

- Can Iran take any steps or put forward initiatives for Nagorno Garabagh conflict solution?

Islamic Republic of Iran is against any confrontations and it generally supports any actions aimed to elimination the factors able to impede the development of the country. We believe that our cooperation will help us to solve these problems and succeed. Confrontation in the regions usually occurs as a result of neighboring countriesâ€™ interference. As a result, it endangers all regional countriesâ€™ interests.
By using our relations both in Armenia and Azerbaijan we try to make a contribution to conflict solution. This enters into our working plan. If there is no any peace and stability, itâ€™s useless to talk about the development

- How are the negotiations concerning the legal status of the Caspian Sea getting on?

Caspian Sea-related issue is negotiated amongst 5 countries. Thanks to the joint efforts of the heads of the littoral countries, this basin can be turned into the basin of peace and friendship. Itâ€™s possible to use the Caspian resources for the benefits of 5 littoral countries. So far, thanks to held negotiations we have managed to solve 70 per cents of the problems. All 5 littoral countries have received the concerted issues. Now there is a need to hold negotiations amongst foreign ministers and not the working groups. Tehran meeting of the Caspian littoral states was very important. The next meeting is due in Baku, where weâ€™ll have discussions and exchange of ideas. Currently, we conduct preparatory works regarding the protocol. Many things depend on this gathering, and I hope this meeting will take place in the nearest future and will be beneficial.

- Iranian envoy on the Caspian-related issue Mehdi Safari has been appointed an ambassador in China. Who will replace him?

So far, Mehdi Safari accomplishes this position. However, Iranian MFA considers news candidates.

- Azerbaijani scientist Rashid Aliyev is in detention in Iran. What can you say about it?

Itâ€™s up to judicial authority. I think, Rashid Aliyevâ€™s detention is not the political issue. If itâ€™s a political issue then the MFA would be closely engaged in it.

- How is the Rasht-Gazvin-Astara railway construction getting on?

Rasht-Gazvin-Astara railway is very important to us. At the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral states it was agreed to construct the railway among Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, and this work is currently under way. The construction of the railway will be completed in 2011. The Iranian companies will also construct the Turkmen part of the railway. Rasht-Gazvin-Astara railway launching will make an important contribution to the development of the mutual relations of the regional countries.

- What are you going to do against the pressure and sanctions imposed on Iran?

A country must endure any difficulties for protection its rights. Many donâ€™t want Muslim countriesâ€™ development. In contravention of all things we have to befriend one another and get development. Iran is charged a lot due to the nuclear issue. This is all slander. We are reproached with assumption of nuclear weapon production in the future. The International Atomic Energy Agency envoys repeatedly came to Iran and checked. IAEA management made 21 statements on absence any nuclear weapon. We consider the sanctions against Iran are the political issue. It exceeds the legal limits. However, Iran is not afraid of any pressure or sanctions, and itâ€™ll defend its rights to the end.