Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan strengthen ties

URMIA, April 18 (MNA) -- The two-day Iran-Turkey-Azerbaijan trilateral forum, which was attended by the foreign ministers of the three countries, concluded in Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province on Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi held separate talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on the sidelines of the meeting on Sunday.

Salehi and Mammadyarov stated that providing customs facilities, increasing the volume of trade between Iran and Azerbaijan, and expanding cooperation in various areas must be put on the agenda.

They also emphasized the necessity of implementing the agreements signed by the two countries.

Mammadyarov also extended an invitation to Salehi to visit Azerbaijan.

In another meeting, Salehi and Davutoglu explored ways to increase the volume of trade between Tehran and Ankara.

Salehi stated that Iran and Turkey have good cooperation in the regional and international arenas and called for closer bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Davutoglu said that the trilateral meeting of Iranian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani foreign ministers paved the way for the expansion of regional cooperation.

And Turkey is keen to increase cooperation with Iran, particularly in economic interactions and the area of transportation, he added.