BAKU Iranian Deputy Justice Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Ja'far Montazeri arrived here Monday evening for a week visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan. Montazeri told IRNA's reporter at Baku Airport that the goal of his visit is to exchange views with the Azeri justice officials and inking two accords to promote cooperation in the judicial areas between the two neighboring countries and extradition of the criminals.

Iran and Azerbaijan had reviewed the draft on the extradition of the criminals in October 1997 during the visit of the Deputy Azeri Minister of Justice Aidin Kasemov to Iran. Montazeri added that the two countries are also reviewing another accord for the transfer of the convicts between two countries. 70 Iranians have been convicted of different charges by the Azeri Court of Law among whom 60 prisoners are narcotic traffickers.

Iranian deputy justice minister is expected to hold meetings with the Azeri Minister of Justice Soudabeh Hassan Ava, Deputy Justice Minister Akev Rafi'ov, Azeri Attorney General Aldar Hassanof and other top judiciary officials. (IRNA)