HEYDAR ALIYEV ACCUSED TEHERAN OF THWARTING HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE COUNTRY

PanARMENIAN.Net - President of Azerbaijan accused the Iranian side in thwarting his official visit to the country, fixed for September 17-18 this year. As reported by "Turan" agency, Heydar Aliyev stated it last Saturday to Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan Ahad Gazai. In the Azerbaijani head's words, the visit did not take place due to the Iranian side " being unready" to sign a new Treaty on friendship and cooperation and also Political statement of the heads of the two nations. Aliyev said the Azeri side had presented a draft of the Treaty, but not long before the visit the representatives of Iran stated September 16 the document was not ready. In case of the Political statement, the Iranian side presented a "totally different" text to be signed. Gazai in his turn said Azeri delegation at the level of Chief of Foreign Ministry Department was preparing the visit in Teheran. In his opinion, if the Foreign Minister arrived in Teheran, many questions could be solved on the spot. But Aliyev pointed out the Ambassador's arguments were unsound and reminded the same delegation initialed six economic documents. At the same time Aliyev confirmed his readiness to visit Iran but under the stipulation that the new Treaty on friendship and cooperation and the text of the Political statement will be adjusted in advance.

According to the data provided by informed sources, Baku insists upon including items about respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries and not using or threatening to use force in bilateral relations in the texts of the above mentioned documents. Besides, Baku comes out for the mutual position on dividing the Caspian Sea in accordance with peace treaties to be expressed in the documents.