Azerbaijani, Russian, Iranian FMs Hold Meeting in Baku

During a meeting of regional powers, from left: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, shake hands in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Thursday, April 7, 2016. The foreign ministers of Russia and Iran joined efforts on Thursday to prevent a new war between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces over Nagorno-Karabakh, while both sides in the conflict accused the other of violating a two-day-old cease-fire. (AP Photo)

A trilateral meeting of Azerbaijani, Russian and Iranian foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov, Sergey Lavrov and Mohammad Javad Zarif took place in Baku on April 7.

The officials discussed bilateral and multilateral relations, energy and transport projects and regional security issues.

Russian Foreign Minister expressed his satisfaction with the ceasefire and said, “We could not bypass such a hot issue as the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. We express satisfaction over the reached ceasefire. We have exerted efforts to help our close friends to attain this agreement which, hopefully, will be complied with and observed, including taking into account the fact that there are known agreements that had been adopted back in the 1990s and that are related to the indefinite obligations concerning the ceasefire regime,” TASS reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also pointed out that Iran is ready to be a mediator between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Ongoing Construction of the North-South Transport Corridor

After the security meetings, three sides agreed to completion of the available construction of North-South Transport Corridor. According to TASS report, Lavrov said, “We discussed issues that deal with the material sphere of cooperation. We agreed that our relevant agencies will start detailing practical aspects of implementing the project of ‘North-South’ transport corridor along the western Caspian coast.”

The North-South Transport Corridor is one of the most important regional projects in the world. The main objective is to create a connection by rail, ship and roadways from India to Europe by using Caucasus region.

Russia, Iran, and India signed an agreement for the project in 2002. Azerbaijan stands as an important station which connects Iran and Russia. The annual aim is to carry 1.5 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo. North-South Transport Corridor will provide great opportunities to Azerbaijan and Iran as the transit routes between Europe and India. Tehran and Baku work to finish their parts for this.