Azerbaijani, Iranian foreign ministers hold phone call amid tensions

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - The foreign ministers from Azerbaijan and Iran held telephone discussion amid tensions between the two countries earlier this week, according to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

It said Jeyhun Bayramov and Huseyn Amir Abdullahian spoke April 7 and 8 where they mutually expressed that they respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each other’s country.

"During the telephone conversation, a detailed discussion was held regarding the existing dissatisfaction and misunderstandings between the two countries. The importance of continuing negotiations to eliminate misunderstandings was emphasized.

“Agreement was expressed on the implementation of existing projects between Azerbaijan and Iran," it said.

It noted that Bayramov pointed out that it is important to respect Azerbaijan's independent foreign policy based on its national interests and relations with countries in the region.

The discussions came after Azerbaijan summoned Iran’s Ambassador to Baku Seyed Abbas Mousavi on Monday in response to a diplomatic note from Tehran addressed to Foreign Ministry. On Thursday, Azerbaijan declared four employees of the Iranian Embassy in Baku “persona non grata” and asked them to leave the country within 48 hours.