By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) - Eurasian countries on Monday sent their condolences over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other senior government officials, who were killed in a helicopter crash in the mountainous East Azerbaijan province.
Tehran confirmed on Monday morning that Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, died in a helicopter crash that took place on Sunday.
In a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his country’s “deep shock” on the news regarding the death of Raisi and accompanying officials.
“In the person of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian people lost a prominent statesman who served his country with dedication and loyalty all his life. His cherished memory will forever live in our hearts,” Aliyev said in the letter published by the Azerbaijani presidency.
He went on to express that they share the Iranian people’s grief and extended their deepest condolences to him, his country, and the families and loved ones of those who were killed.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also conveyed his shock over those killed in the crash.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also sent his condolences to Khamenei, saying that Raisi will “remain in history as a wise leader who devoted his entire life to selfless service to the Iranian people.”
“I will forever retain my warmest memories of meetings and conversations with Mr. President, who was a true friend of Belarus and cared a lot about the development of Belarusian-Iranian cooperation. His name is forever included in the chronicle of relations between our countries,” he said, according to a statement by the Belarusian presidency.
- Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences over Raisi’s death in a telegram published by the country’s presidential press service Akorda.
He described Raisi as an “outstanding statesman who worked selflessly all his life to serve the interests of the Iranian state, improve the well-being of his people, and maintain stability in the region.”
“In Kazakhstan, Ibrahim Raisi will always be remembered as a responsible leader, an authoritative politician of international level, a person who made a significant contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation,” he said.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent Khamenei a letter conveying his condolences over Raisi's death, his press secretary Sherzod Asadov said on Telegram.
He added that the letter particularly notes the late president's contribution to the development of mutually beneficial and long-term partnership between Uzbekistan and Iran.
Elsewhere, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan also expressed his condolences and support to Khamenei, the Iranian government and people over the death of Raisi and accompanying officials in a telegram shared by the country’s presidency.
- Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon also expressed condolences over the death of Raisi, who he described as an “outstanding statesman,” and conveyed his appreciation of him for his contribution to the development of Tajik-Iranian relations.
According to a statement by the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, President Serdar Berdimuhamedow and the chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow sent their condolences to the Iranian leadership over Raisi’s death.