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Tehran, May 20, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here on Monday called as "bright" the prospect of Tehran-Baku ties.
Addressing a press conference, Asefi said Azeri President Heidar Aliyev's visit to Tehran and his "fruitful" talks with the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and President Mohammad Khatami would prepare the ground for expansion of mutual cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields.
He said conclusion of agreements in different spheres indicate strong will and firm determination of both sides to diversify and strengthen bilateral ties.
He added that Iranian and Azeri officials had in their meetings emphasized the need for further expansion of bilateral ties with respect to their religious and cultural commonalties as well as common borders.
The policy of detente and confidence building would be seriously followed in the Caspian sea in relations with the littoral states and it is expected that continued exchange of views would give way to further convergence and regional cooperation, said Asefi.
He hailed the "positive" approach of the European Union towards expansion of mutual cooperation, calling the move as helpful for both sides.
He touched on EU foreign ministers' decision in their recent meeting in Brussels, to conclude trade and commercial agreements with Iran. He said they are to follow in details the parts and parcels of their proposed agreement in their upcoming meeting in June.
He said the European Union and Iran are determined to expand bilateral ties. Tehran too stresses expansion of relations with
the European Union, considering it as part of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran's government, he added.
Asefi said the trilateral Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistani meeting, that was held in Tehran recently under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), indicates Iran's firm resolve to establish peace and security in Afghanistan and reconstruct the country.
He said Iran rejects any selective and unilateralistic policy towards Afghanistan's reconstruction, adding Iran does not compete with any country in Afghanistan.
He added that under present sensitive juncture, the Afghan people should be availed with a chance to guarantee peace, security and economic progress in their country.
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