Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia intend to increase efforts to promote the North-South Corridor (UPDATED)

Issues of development of transport corridor North-South became the main topic of the trilateral meeting in Baku on April 7^th of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran - Elmar Mammadyarov, Sergei Lavrov and Muhammad Zarif.

As I reported at a briefing after talks with Mammadyarov, the idea of trilateral cooperation on this issue was discussed during Azerbaijani President's visit to Iran earlier this year. After that, Azerbaijani President discussed the matter on the telephone with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. After that, it was decided to hold a trilateral meeting at the level of Foreign Ministers to define cooperation priorities.

Mammadyarov informed about the arrangements for the development of railway communications between the three countries. In the past there was a direct international railway from Russia via the South Caucasus to Iran's Bandar-Abbas on the Persian Gulf coast. However, due to the Karabakh conflict and occupation of the Azerbaijani territories the railway through Nakhichevan was interrupted.

Currently  the development of the rail corridor north-south along the western coast of the Caspian Sea is expected. On April 20 the construction of the railway section 8 km Astara-Astara on the border between Azerbaijan and Iran will be launched. Construction will be completed by the end of this year, he said.

The Iranian minister said that Tehran will accelerate work on the construction of the railway Rasht-Astara. Implementation of these projects will provide a rail link between the three countries. In the view of the Iranian minister, is the most effective route for transshipment of cargo from Asia to Russia and Europe. Zarif also said that ministers would prepare a trilateral meeting at the presidential level.

Lavrov said that through the Ministries of Transport and other departments will be worked out the technical, commercial and other aspects of development of the North-South project, including not only railways but also road and sea journey. It is also provided to develop common tariffs, simplify customs procedures.

Russian Foreign Minister noted the importance of the trilateral format for cooperation in the field of security, counter the threats of terrorism, drug trafficking, border crossing of militants.

According to him, the bilateral cooperation between the security services and other authorities has been successfully developed. "The tripartite format only will give value to our efforts,"  Lavrov said. -06C-

2016 April 07 (Thursday) 13:00:24

On Thursday morning, the trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia started in Baku.

Sergei Lavrov, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Elmar Mammadyarov started the meeting at a working breakfast format. Based on its results, the ministers will hold a press conference.

The trilateral meeting was planned for several months as a new format for the strengthening of regional cooperation, but after the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh it became apparent that the central topic of negotiations will be precisely the situation in this region.

Prior to the tripartite talks Lavrov was received by President Ilham Aliyev at the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to the political solution to the problem, reported RIA Novosti.

In turn, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, opening the meeting said that the main theme is the creation of a transport corridor through the territory of the three countries, and primarily the railway connecting Iran Communications, Azerbaijan and Russia. He noted that on April 20 the ceremony of launching the construction of the railway bridge on the border between Azerbaijan and Iran will take place. -02D-