Presidents of Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan hold summit in Baku

President Hassan Rouhani attends a trilateral meeting with his Russian and Azeri counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, respectively, in the Azeri capital of Baku.

According to Press TV, President Hassan Rouhani attends a trilateral meeting with his Russian and Azeri counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, respectively, in the Azeri capital of Baku.

During the summit on Monday, President Rouhani said the expansion of ties with regional countries is one of the Islamic Republic's principled policies.

The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic is based on cooperation, convergence and finding ways to fulfill common interests and in general Tehran follows win-win policies, he added.   

He highlighted the importance of interaction and cooperation among Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan, adding that all countries must work together to achieve common objectives.

President Rouhani said terrorism, extremism, meddling of trans-regional countries in the internal affairs of the states in the region and using sanctions as tools to advance ones' agendas are plights that require the cooperation of the three countries.

The president said Iran and Azerbaijan have taken constructive steps to boost bilateral ties, adding that the ties between Tehran and Moscow are also on the right track.

He further proposed that Iran host the next ministerial meeting and summit between the three countries.

Putin, in turn, said the summit has opened a new chapter in the relations between the three states, stressing the need for finding joint solutions to the threat of terrorism facing the region.

Alieyev, for his part, said  Azerbaijan follows an independent policy and referred to the dispute between Baku and Yerevan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, saying that one million Azeris have been expelled by Armenia from their land. 

He said the Caspian Sea has rich oil and gas resources, adding that the sea's littoral states should work to protect its resources.

President Rouhani arrived in Baku on Sunday for a two-day official visit at the head of a high-ranking delegation.

He held talks with the Azeri president on the same day about ways to bolster relations in different fields. Senior Iranian and Azeri officials also signed six documents and memoranda of understanding to strengthen cooperation in various sectors. The agreements were inked in the presence of Rouhani and Aliyev.

Earlier on Monday, the Iranian and Russian presidents discussed issues of common interest and avenues for strengthening cooperation.

SS