Turkish FM says Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan look to enhance ties

Following the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that these three countries, which he described as having deep-rooted common historic past, would work to further regional cooperation and relations.

Recalling that Turkey and Iran opened a new border crossing on Saturday, Davutoğlu said the number of border crossings would increase in the near future in a move to boost trade and tourism.

Davutoğlu said the major goal of the three-way meeting of Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan was to improve cultural relations, increase travel among these countries and to develop new economic projects.

"We will work to combine potentials of these countries spanning from the Caspian to the Indian Ocean, from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean," he said.

Davutoğlu added that Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan were three countries in the Caucasus and said foreign ministers underscored the understanding to collaborate for peace, security and stability in this region.

Foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan will have their second meeting Nakhchevan, Azerbaijan this year and the the third meeting would be held in Turkey in the first half of 2012.

Following the three-way meeting, Davutoğlu also had separate meetings with his Iranian and Azerbaijani counterparts ir Urmia.