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| Afshar Suleymani, Iranian diplomat and former ambassador |
Iran’s former ambassador to Azerbaijan states that local authorities in Iranian Azerbaijan, including governors, have the authority to expand trade and economic relations with neighboring countries. Despite the shared language and geographical proximity between Iran’s Turkish regions and both Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan, there is untapped potential for high trade relations. However, according to Afshar Soleymani, various technical problems limit the use of this potential.
According to Mr. Soleymani, “The provinces of Iranian Azerbaijan have been engaging in economic relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, or generally with countries around Iran, at the level of governors for many years... There are also relations in other areas, including cultural ties. There is no barrier for this.”
He emphasizes that shared language and borders are significant factors in strengthening trade relations:
“In economic, commercial, and cultural relations, borders and language are two major factors. Let me also add another economic factor, which is transportation... This would ensure the low-cost transportation of exported goods... But generally, these opportunities have not been fully utilized. Sometimes little, sometimes more, but not maximally.”
The former ambassador draws attention to some existing difficulties in this field:
“Relations have been better at certain times. When mutual demands, the ability to meet those demands, and the economic situation were more favorable, economic relations were better.
But now, both the Republic of Azerbaijan and the border and language are major factors in economic, commercial, and cultural relations... However, generally, the opportunities have not been fully utilized.
There are some economic challenges in Iran; purchasing power has decreased, and there are issues with bureaucracy... Also, goods sometimes become more expensive.”
Recently, the governor of Ardabil, Majid Khodabakhsh, was received by President Ilham Aliyev during an official visit to Azerbaijan. Afshar Soleymani points out that governors from Iranian Azerbaijan provinces have met with Azerbaijani presidents in the past, and he describes these meetings as more diplomatic in nature.
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| President Ilham Aliyev and Governor of Ardabil Majid Khodabakhsh |
“These meetings are more diplomatic in nature and are a matter of emphasis. Governors are given the opportunity to meet at the presidential level. This appears as a diplomatic gesture,” he says.
Soleymani also argues that the expansion of economic relations between Iranian Azerbaijan and Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan will be possible through the strengthening of the private sector.
Turkish activists and some political experts point out that there is a security viewpoint against Azerbaijan in Iran’s Azerbaijani provinces, and they express concerns that this negatively affects relations with Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan. However, Mr. Soleymani defends that there are no such problems in trade and investment matters.
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| Governor of East Azerbaijan Ismaeil Jabbarzadeh and former Governor of Istanbul Hüseyin Avni Mutlu |
Afshar Soleymani also evaluated the role the Turkish Caucus, established in the Iranian Parliament, could play in this matter.
“The Turkish Caucus should raise the various demands of Turks and Turkish regions within the framework of the law, bring them to the agenda in parliament, enact laws, and oversee the implementation of those laws by the government... Another task of the parliament is the budget issue. Here, [the Caucus] can help ensure that Turkish regions receive a larger portion of the budget... Furthermore, they could act to enact foreign policy laws aimed at strengthening relations with neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Azerbaijan,” adds Iran’s former ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Afşar Süleymani: Türk Fraksiyasi Türkiyə və Azərbaycanla münasibətlərə müsbət təsir buraxa bilər