Breaking Headline

Azeri President Postpones Visit to Iran

Published September 16th, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

An official visit by Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev to Iran, scheduled for September 17-19, has been postponed, reported the official Iranian news agency (IRNA). 

The agency quoted Azeri presidential office as saying in a statement that the visit has been put off temporarily in accordance with a mutual decision of the two governments.  

A new date for a visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels and will be reported officially, the statement added. 

The reason for the postponement of the visit has not been officially disclosed. Baku analysts, however, speculate it has has been influenced by the current global situation in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the US. 

According to AFP, the official announcement follows press reports earlier this week that Aliyev was under pressure from US diplomats to boycott Iran in the wake of the attacks on New York and Washington. 

There have been no firm allegations of Iranian involvement in the attacks, but Western governments have fingered Iran's hardline Islamic regime as having harbored terrorists in the past. 

"So soon after the tragic events in New York and Washington, the Azeri president cannot visit a country which is accused by the US of supporting international terrorism," the Zerkalo newspaper wrote on Friday – Albawaba.com 

 

 

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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