IRANIAN PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD TO VISIT BAKU LATER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000786 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL IR AJ SUBJECT: IRANIAN PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD TO VISIT BAKU LATER THIS SUMMER Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Joan Polaschik for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (SBU) At a press conference on June 22, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov confirmed that Azerbaijan is preparing for a visit of Iranian President Ahmadinejad to Baku. While not providing any details on the timing of the visit, Khalafov hinted that agreements pertaining to "economic, commercial and humanitarian affairs" would be signed during the visit. ¶2. (SBU) According to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Khazar Ibrahim, President Ahmadinejad's visit to Baku is expected to take place in late July or early August. Ibrahim said that details concerning the visit were finalized by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadyarov and President Ahmadinejad during their June 21 meeting in Tehran. ¶3. (SBU) Concerning Mammadyarov's June 21 meeting with Ahmadinejad, the Islamic Republic News Agency and Fars News Agency reported that Mammadyarov mentioned power plant construction, widening the North-South corridor, energy and culture as areas in which mutual cooperation between the two countries could be expanded. ¶4. (C) Mammadyarov visited Tehran June 20-21 for the second ministerial meeting of Caspian littoral states (to be reported septel). In addition to his meeting with President Ahmadinejad, Mammadyarov also had meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki and Majlis Speaker Haddad-Adel, inviting both to Baku as well. LU