Iran, Azerbaijan open joint dam on border river
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev inaugurated a dam constructed jointly by the two neighboring states on the Aras River at their common border.
The Qiz Qalasi dam, which represents the largest joint water project between Iran and Azerbaijan, was put into operation at a ceremony attended by the two heads of state on Sunday.
The embankment dam is located in the Khoda Afarin region in Iran’s northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.
The project, with a capacity of 62 million cubic meters, will reportedly supply water to the irrigation and drainage networks of Khoda Afarin County.
Known as the biggest water project in Iran’s northwestern border areas, the Qiz Qalasi dam is estimated to regulate 2 billion cubic meters of water every year.
A hydroelectric power station coupled with the dam is projected to generate 270 megawatt hours of electricity per annum.
Iranian Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian has described the Qiz Qalasi dam as a symbol of friendship between the people of Iran and Azerbaijan.
The dam has been constructed according to the latest and most modern engineering standards, he added.
Stronger relations
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Raisi said relations with Azerbaijan are stronger than just two neighbors.
“As Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei] said our relationship with the friendly, brotherly and neighboring country of Azerbaijan goes beyond neighborliness. Our relationship is a strong kinship bond that has roots in the beliefs of the two nations … and connects our history and civilization,” he said.
“This heartfelt relationship between the two countries and the two nations is unbreakable.”
The Iranian chief executive also noted that Tehran-Baku ties should expand to regional and international cooperation.
He further warned that enemies do not want to see progress in Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic.
“Some may not be happy with the bond between Iran and Azerbaijan, but what is important to us is the interests of the two nations and the two countries.
“Iran believes that any progress in Azerbaijan is its own progress and that any insecurity along the common border will damage both states.”
Aliyev, for his part, said that the meeting between the Iranian and Azeri presidents has a message for the region and the world.
No one can create misunderstanding and division between two countries, he emphasized, describing developing bilateral relations as positive.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov said that the project shows strengthening economic and political relations between Iran and Azerbaijan, which can solve many problems and remove economic obstacles.
Qiz Qalasi Dam brings about equalizing the resources of two countries on both sides of the Aras River and is considered a transnational project for both countries, he added.
The ecological importance of the project for the people of the two countries and regions cannot be ignored either, he noted.