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The head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev who was in Iran declared Tehran as a strategic partner of Baku, in the meanwhile Farhad Mammadov, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, hit the alarm in the U.S. about the Iranian threats over Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani news agency Haqqin.az writes.

The article reads that a group of representatives of official Baku headed by the leadership of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President, along with the pro-governmental politicians and diplomats arrived in Washington DC. They hold meetings these days to convey to the Americans the "voice of the regional threat from Iran and other neighboring countries."

"Tehran wants to interfere into our foreign policy and it bothers us. We want the US -- our strategic partner -- at least, to know about these processes and support us," Asim Mollazade, a member of the delegation, told TURAN's Washington DC correspondent.

The topic of CSIS discussion on Monday, April 29 was "Iran-Azerbaijan relations and Strategic Competition in the Caucasus". " Yet, the event failed to answer the question what kind of support the Azeri government seeks from Washington and how serious do they sound with the ongoing official campaign in Baku against the US-backed democratic institutions, right a few month before the presidential election?" the material stated.

Speaking at the event, the director of the Center for Strategic Studies Farhad Mammadov said that the Iranian-Azerbaijani relations are characterized by growing tensions. In recent years, Iran regards Azerbaijani secularism and culture "as a threat."
"Haqqin.az" notes that at the same time the head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev while in Tehran, said: "Strengthening and development of Azerbaijan in the last decade has upset the West, so they have taken certain steps to disturb the peace and stability in Azerbaijan. As an example, I would like to bring the actions of NDI representative in Baku, who "gave one million dollars to various entities and citizens in Azerbaijan to compromise the security of the country. Ilham Aliyev supports the ruling regime in Iran and President Ahmadinejad believes his friend and supporter. The existence of a strong and stable Iran is beneficial for Azerbaijan. Ahmadinejad’s name and actions are inscribed in golden letters in the internal, regional and global policies, we can clearly see, and that's why you are so respected."

In its turn, the Director of the Information Agency "Turan" Mehman Aliyev commented in an interview given to "Haqqin.az" on the contradicting statements of the official representatives of Azerbaijan, made in Washington and Tehran. According to M. Aliyev, Farhad Mammadov statements, which were made by him in Washington, were prepared in advance, and perhaps he did not have time to coordinate his speech with the statement of Ramiz Mehdiyev in Tehran.

Referring to the speech of Ramiz Mehdiyev in Tehran, M. Aliyev called it a failure: "This once again confirms the defectiveness of Baku's foreign policy. However, perhaps in the statements of Ramiz Mehdiyev lies hidden blackmail against the West, which may mean, if you do not support us, we turn toward Iran. It is very unfortunate tactic which will turn into a headache for Baku."
According to Mehman Aliyev, head of Azerbaijani President Administration should give an explanation of these statements. "The West was once again became convinced in fact that the Azerbaijani authorities are unreliable and unstable partners whom it is better not to have any relations with", said M. Aliyev.