March 17, The Iran Project - The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, heading a political delegation, traveled to Baku on Thursday (March 15) to take part in a quadripartite meeting between Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia.

While in Baku, Zarif attended the quadripartite meeting attended by Mikheil Janelidze, Mevlut Cavusoglu and Elmar Mammadyarov who are the, Georgian, Turkish and Azeri foreign ministers respectively.

Iranian FM also held separated meetings with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and the foreign ministers of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Zarif told reporters upon arrival at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in the Azeri capital that Iran follows policies of having a strong region and developing the regional economy.

Zarif in his meeting with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan in Azeri capital Baku on Thursday said, “the four countries of Iran, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan have high potentials and capabilities in the fields of energy, tourism and industry.”

Effective steps should be taken in order to promote fields of cooperation in energy, tourism and industrial sectors, the Iranian top diplomat  maintained.

Speaking on the sidelines of a quadrilateral meeting, Zarif said, “Islamic Republic of Iran believes in powerful region. For this purpose, we are ready to establish bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral cooperation with the concerned countries.”

Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia share historical, cultural and geographical commonalities, the issue of which should be taken into consideration, he maintained.

Zarif in a meeting with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze reviewed major issues regarding enhancement of bilateral relations between Tehran and Tbilisi.

Meanwhile, Zarif in a Twitter message hailed his participation in Baku quadrilateral meeting.

“Delighted to be in Baku for the first-ever quadrilateral meeting of FMs of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Iran. Excellent talks on ways to forge closer cooperation, including a roadmap for vastly improved connectivity geared to boost trade and prosperity,” Zarif said in his message.

Finally the quadrilateral meeting urged in a joint statement consolidation of cooperation to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

The Baku quadrilateral meeting focused on promotion of cooperation between the four countries to strengthen regional peace and security and develop economic, energy, transportation, cultural and tourism ties.

Zarif left Baku for Astana, Kazakhstan, on March 15 to participate in a meeting to be attended by the Turkish and Russian foreign ministers over Syria crisis.