Source: IRNA republished without alteration to textIRNA –IRI Interior Minister’s Security and Disciplinary Affairs Deputy Ali Abdollahi spoke here Monday of occurrence of a limited engagement at the Iranian side of the Iran-Azerbaijan border between a number of the two countries’ border guards.
Abdollahi added in an interview with IRNA, “The incidence occurred when a number of Azeri forces illegally entered the Iranian soil and did not heed the halt order of the Iranian border guards.”
He reiterated, “After this incidence there have been some contacts and meetings between the two countries’ border guards and the officials in Islamic Republic of Iran and in the Republic of Azerbaijan have been busy surveying the matter. The issue is being surveyed now through both countries’ diplomatic lobbies.”
According to Abdollahi, in the course of the border incidence, apparently and Azerbaijani border guard has got killed.
The Interior Minister’s Security and Disciplinary Affairs Deputy further reiterated, “Unintentional passage of border guards is a normal occurrence which takes place sometimes at various borders with neighboring countries.”
He added, “Although in such cases the border guards pass through borders incidentally and unintentionally, when they hear the halt order of the other side’s guards they heed it, and eventually the matter is solved based on the mutual understanding of the two countries’ border guards, but unfortunately in this case the border guards of the Azerbaijan Republic did not heed the halt order of their Iranian counterparts.”
Abdollahi expressed hope that the border guards of Azerbaijan Republic would pay closer attention to the border lines and the warnings of the Iranian guards.
In related news, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman emphasized here Monday it is mutual will of Iranian and Azerbaijani top officials to expand good bilateral relations, adding, “Concerned officials at a joint border committee are surveying causes of occurred border incidence.
Ramin Mehmanparast added in an exclusive interview with IRNA Political Desk reporter, “The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan are brother neighbors and enjoy good neighborly relations.”
Referring to various visits of the two countries’ officials of each other’s capitals and meetings between the two countries’ top officials, including the visit of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Parliament Speaker of Baku a few days ago, he reiterated, “These visits are signs of good Tehran-Baku relations, just as Mr. Larijani’s visit of Azerbaijan Republic has been a successful and fruitful visit.”
RARE BORDER INCIDENTS MUST NOT AFFECT GOOD BILATERAL REALTIONS
The Foreign Ministry spokesman furthermore emphasized that the border incidents and happenings must not affect the two countries’ good relations, reiterating, “Keeping in mind that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan are neighbors, the occurrence of various types of incidents at their border region is a natural phenomenon.”
He emphasized, “From what we have heard so far, we can deduct that the limited border engagement occurred after a number of Azerbaijan Republic border guards entered the border region in Iranian side.”
Mehmanparast added, “In such instances, the incident is surveyed by the concerned officials appointed by the two countries.”
