11/2/2017 12:00:00 AM - 11:0 Code: 614 Print

President Rouhani: Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia to link Asia to Europe

President Rouhani: Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia to link Asia to Europe
Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia aim to link Bandar Abbas in southern Iran to Helsinki in Finland (Asia to Europe), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

Financial Tribune

'Transit between the three countries and also between Asia and Europe is the first decision that has been made by Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia,' Rouhani said Wednesday in a joint Press Conference with presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan.

He praised Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin for their attendance in the trilateral meeting in Tehran.

'Friendship, geographical neighborliness and cultural relations between three countries made us determined to take advantage of the capacity of trilateral relations,' he said. 

'We aim to facilitate economic relations between three countries,' President Rouhani noted.

Improving banking ties and paving the grounds for three countries to use their national currencies in bilateral and trilateral trade exchanges were among other topics discussed by three parties, he added.

He pointed to oil and gas and Iran's top situation in the world, adding, 'We can develop cooperation in producing and exploring oil and in investing on energy field.'

Iran is also after finalizing the Caspian Sea legal regime to take advantage of Caspian Sea potentials, Iranian President reiterated.

Rouhani also appreciated Putin for accepting to host the next round of trilateral meeting in Moscow.

'In addition to economic issues, we discussed regional issues such as safeguarding the region, fighting terrorism and drugs trafficking and also Iran-Russia cooperation in maintaining stability and security in Syria,' he said.

The trilateral meeting was held this evening aiming to reinforce cooperation among Tehran, Moscow and Baku.

Maintaining cooperation to finalize railway and road infrastructures within the framework of North-South Transport Corridor and following up agreements already signed on transit issues were among the most important topics which were discussed by the three parties.