Tehran, Baku sign economic MOUFebruary 23, 2009 - 22:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Foreign ministers of Iran and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of understanding in Baku on Thursday at their 7th joint economic commission.The 114-article deal stipulates the ways for the promotion of ties in the fields of trade, transportation, urban development, gas and oil, petrochemicals, agriculture, industry, banking, environment, culture, tourism, health, and education. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki referred to signing the MOU as` a positive step' towards the expansion of bilateral relations, adding the deal would augment the two-way annual trade to $1.5 billion from the current $700 million. Azeri official Elmar Mammadyarov said that the sides enjoy great potentials to develop economic cooperation. "Five ad hoc working groups have been formed chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries to direct the joint economic commission's activities," said Mamedyarov. During his one-day visit, Mottaki also held talks with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, and Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Tehran Times Economic Desk reports. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |