Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan discuss border security cooperation

Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan have discussed prospects of cooperation for ensuring border security, as well as steps aimed at combating any illegal activities in the Caspian Sea, Iran’s Border Guard Commander Brigadier General Qasem Rezaee said on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists in Tehran, Rezaee said during a trilateral meeting in Baku, he discussed with Chief of Azerbaijan’s State Border Service Colonel General Elchin Guliyev and Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Security Service Vladimir Kulishov the situation in the Caspian Sea, including the work done in combating smuggling, illegal migration, and illegal fishing.

He said at the end of the meeting, the parties expressed readiness to exchange mutual information and experience in the above-mentioned fields.

"The participants also agreed that the cooperation of border services on combating any illegal activities in the Caspian Sea would contribute to provide border security and stability in the water area of the sea and in adjacent zone," he added.

According to Rezaee, they further emphasized the importance of expanding collaboration aimed at resolving the issues rising from the implementation of “North-South” international transport corridor project.

Stressing the necessity of holding joint border exercises, the parties highlighted the importance of reciprocal friendship visits by the border guard ships. Furthermore, they specified areas of activity for the coming years, Iran’s Border Guard Commander Brigadier General Qasem Rezaee said.

To this end, Baku also hosted a bilateral meeting of the border guards. During the meeting, Guliyev and Rezaee stressed the importance of preventing illegal migration and smuggling of illicit narcotics, weapons and ammunition.

The parties further discussed cooperation in connection with the construction of the Astara (of Azerbaijan) and Astara (of Iran) railway within the framework of the "North-South”.

During the Baku visit, the Iranian and Russian delegates were also received by President Ilham Aliyev.

During the meeting with Rezaee, President Aliyev said Azerbaijan and Iran are jointly addressing international challenges.

He also emphasized the significance of expanding border security cooperation.

Rezaee, for his part, hailed the importance of the high-level reciprocal visits, adding that it would give impetus to the expansion of cooperation between the border services of Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani-Iranian border, which runs along the Aras River, reaches a little less than 800 km in length, while the border of Azerbaijan with Russia is 390 km long and runs along the Samur River.

Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia are three of the five Caspian littoral states; the other two countries are Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

EA