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Baku: Polad Bulbul Oghlu: "We Do Not Consider CIS To Be A Useless Or

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  • Baku: Polad Bulbul Oghlu: "We Do Not Consider CIS To Be A Useless Or

    POLAD BULBUL OGHLU: "WE DO NOT CONSIDER CIS TO BE A USELESS ORGANIZATION BUT PREFER BILATERAL RELATIONS"

    Today.Az
    02 July 2008
    Azerbaijan

    Interview with ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of
    Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bulbul oghlu before the visit of Russian
    President Dmitri Medvedev to Azerbaijan.

    - Azerbaijan and Russia maintain long-standing and close
    cooperation. How can you assess the current state of bilateral
    relations?

    - Yes, we have a long-standing history, which covers not only the
    Soviet period, but also the times of Tsarist Russia and certainly
    the years of our coexistence within a single country.

    Now, when the states have become independent, everyone mainly
    bases on his national interests. The most important is that
    Azerbaijan and Russia have mutual understanding, maintain partner
    dialogue on the highest level, that is on the level of Presidents
    and governments. Emerging problems can always be settled in the
    process of a dialogue. Problems emerge even between members of one
    family. Naturally, they can also emerge between the states, this
    should be greeted with understanding.

    We were glad that Dmitri Medvedev has accepted Ilham Aliyev's
    invitation and is ready to visit Baku. This is one of the first his
    foreign visits as a President.

    Medvedev has recently visited Kazakhstan, China, Germany and now
    intends to visit Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. We think it is right
    that the Russian President sees the CIS countries as a priority of
    his activity.

    I would like to note that Azerbaijan highly appreciates the activity of
    former Russian president Vladimir Putin. He was the one who paid the
    first state visit to Baku in 2001 in our recent history, in period of
    national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who always had a great
    respect towards Russia. Heydar Aliyev worked much in Moscow, he was
    first deputy chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, member of the
    political bureau and a member of the senior leadership of the Soviet
    Union. He always treated Russia with great attention and respect.

    Putin's visit was a kind of a turning point. After that the relations
    between our countries started to improve. In this connection,
    the visit of the new Russian President to Baku seems important,
    we approve it and will greet him with great hospitality on our land.

    - Heydar Aliyev's 85th jubilee has recently been marked with a special
    cordiality in Moscow...

    - Right. The hall was filled, the memorial party was attended by new
    head of the Russian presidential administration Mr. Narishkin.

    Prominent figures of Russian academy of sciences, director of the
    Tretyakov gallery delivered speech, the event was also attended by
    deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov. The night was conducted by
    first deputy Moscow mayor Lubov Schvedova. The concern involved the
    artists, who knew Heydar Aliyev personally... The press also well
    highlighted the event and it is evident that Moscow and the whole
    Russia remember him. People do not forget anything-either good or
    bad. Therefore, it is important to do goof.

    - What can be called a priority for Azerbaijan: bilateral relations
    with Russia or development of multilateral relations in the framework
    of the CIS?

    - Certainly, bilateral relations with Russia. CIS is a good format
    for talks, meetings, exchange of views. But, frankly speaking, all
    former USSR states fear any supranational formations. After gaining
    independence, no one wants violation of their sovereignty. No one
    wants to give up even small powers. Therefore, it is not easy to
    risk construction of the Allied Russian-Belarus state. There are
    many other examples. If such associations as EES, GUAM, OTCS, this
    means that CIS is regarded as a format for talks. Meanwhile, it is
    good when presidents meet, community, prime ministers and foreign
    ministers also regularly meet. We do not consider CIS to be a useless
    organization but we give priority to bilateral relations.

    Certainly, there are good moments in the CIS too-for example,
    railroads, energy, combat with crime and drug trafficking. Most
    sphere council are functions. By the way, while being the Cultural
    Minister of Azerbaijan, I have been heading the CIS Council for
    Culture for several years. As is known, the Council for humanitarian
    cooperation, where I am the official representative of Azerbaijan,
    has been created. The first session of CIS intellectuals was held in
    Moscow, then in Astana and the next one is scheduled to be held in
    Tajikistan. There is a move forward here.

    - Were you appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and
    Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Russia two years ago by your own
    wish or the decision of the senior leadership of your country? And
    how do you feel here, living in Russia, being an ambassador?

    - I feel well in your country. Russia is not an alian country for me. I
    have toured it all along, visited different countries. People of my age
    are now leading most Russian regions, they know me well and it is easy
    for me to work. Thus, perhaps it is a little bit immodest but I want
    to say: I think, our respected President has made the right choice.

    I knew the administrative work well, before that I have been the
    Culture Minister of Azerbaijan for 18 years, I have been appointed
    for this post in the Soviet times. And in the mid 1990s I had to
    establish culture bridges with UNESCO, Council of Europe and CIS.

    All culture figures are ambassadors of peace. I have not graduated
    from any special diplomatic schools but I did not have any problems
    with the position. Both musicians and diplomats "write notes" and I
    have no problems with it.

    I am grateful to our President for appointing me the ambassador
    to such a country as Russia, as it plays an important role in the
    post-Soviet area. Russia also plays a serious role in the resolution
    of the Karabakh conflict and I am from Shusha, my parents are from
    Karabakh therefore, I know this problem from inside, which is critical.

    - Do you think there are some problems in the Russian-Azerbaijani
    relations, which require urgent resolution?

    - I have taken part in the congress of Russian-speaking press,
    which was also attended by Mr.Medvedev. Journalists asked him too
    many questions including about xenophobia and racial intolerance. It
    is no secret that we are concerned about this issue very much. Many
    Azerbaijanis reside in Russia, work with the diaspora is a part of
    the embassy's work and we often face complaints about opression.

    I was pleased to hear the speech of Dmitri Medvedev who said it is
    the work of Russian law enforcement bodies to resist this evil and
    it is necessary to bring violators to responsibility. He added that
    the atmosphere of intolerance towards such events should be created
    in press, electronic mass medias, television and the whole Russian
    society.

    I think such position is extremely important for our country, as
    the North Caucasus is also Russia and most Caucasians are Russian
    citizens. You know, my friend, great singer and national artist Zaur
    Tutov was almost maimed in the street just because he did not look
    like others, while he is a Russian citizen and he has always lived
    in Moscow.

    I am sure that such racial intolerance is inadmissible in such
    highly-civilized country as Russia.

    The Russian President was right to say that to date when new states
    emerged, new, not always comfortable economic conditions were created-
    all negative events in the society seem sharper. He correctly defined
    the reason of the negative, but I would like to note that Russian
    statehood should resist this evil and this is not only my opinion
    but also the opinion of other ambassadors of the CIS states.

    At the previous informal summit in Moscow, some CIS presidents,
    including Ilham Aliyev, raised this issue. At that time Vladimir Putin
    said Russian side will intensify its fight with any demonstrations of
    nationalism. I am glad that new Russian President Dmitri Medvedev also
    displays concern about this problem and voices readiness to resist it.
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