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(original source)
President of Russia
Official Web Portal
July 3, 2008,
Baku
Press Statements after Russian-Azerbaijani Talks
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIEV: Dear Dmitry Anatolevich,
distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Once again, I would like to warmly welcome the President of the
Russian Federation to Azerbaijan. We attach great importance to the
official visit of the President of Russia and are confident that the
visit will serve to strengthen the friendly and good-neighbourly
relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Our talks have been very useful, and we have discussed a wide range of
bilateral issues, questions of regional cooperation and international
relations. And I note with satisfaction that we are in basic agreement
concerning all the items on the agenda.
The content of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan has expanded
and been enriched. We are actively cooperating in the political
sphere, economic ties are growing, trade continues to increase apace
and its overall structure is improving. We are cooperating in the
transport sector, cultural spheres, in security and in strengthening
security measures in our region, and this is not an exhaustive list of
all the issues currently under discussion.
Today we signed some very important documents that will determine the
direction of our cooperation in the future. Among them, I would single
out a joint Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership
between Russia and Azerbaijan. The very name of the Declaration speaks
for itself. We see each other as friends, as countries that can call
each other strategic partners. And this is not just a form of words:
it constitutes the very essence of our relationship. These relations
have a solid foundation and a profound history, and today are based on
the principles of friendship, good neighbourliness, equality and
mutual benefit. The Declaration covers all areas of our bilateral
cooperation and it is very gratifying that what we in Azerbaijan
consider the number one issue - the settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ` is also reflected in
the Declaration. It says there that the conflict should be resolved on
the basis of the principles and norms of international law, according
to UN Security Council resolutions and the decisions of the OSCE
relating to territorial integrity, sovereignty and the inviolability
of state borders.
We are grateful to Russia for taking this position and are confident
that this position, as well as Russia's active participation as
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group dedicated to the settlement of the
conflict, will bring about the desired results.
We are now actively discussing issues of energy cooperation, both
existing ones and prospective ones. Cooperation in the energy sector
has a good history and excellent prospects. Cooperation in oil and gas
sphere is also based on historical achievements, and today we are
considering new projects that are of mutual interest that will
maximise the efficient use of hydrocarbon resources.
Our countries are also involved with issues related to the settlement
of the status of the Caspian Sea. We are neighbours in the Caucasus
and on the Caspian Sea, and the level of cooperation between our
countries is largely dependent on the reciprocal development of
processes in the region and on issues of economic integration.
The cultural content of our relations is expanding. Today, I told
Dmitry Anatolevich that in Azerbaijan there are more than three
hundred schools in which Russian is taught, 19 of them purely Russian
schools, where instruction is only in Russian. Recently, it was
decided to establish a branch of Moscow State University in
Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, the largest Russian community in the south
Caucasus, there are a lot of newspapers published in Russian. In other
words, everything that is necessary for the cultural well-being of
Russian-speaking citizens in Azerbaijan is being done. For this reason
the content of our cultural cooperation occupies an important place in
our relations, and we will continue to make efforts to ensure that it
takes on new forms and features new projects. In other words, talk
about our bilateral relations and the role they play here in the
Caucasus can go on for quite a while. I do not want to take up an
inordinate amount of your time, but I do want to say that on all the
issues that were discussed we have a common understanding, a shared
sense of what has been achieved and -- most importantly - good
prospects for the future.
I am confident that the visit will continue as successfully as it
began and will become a very important step in the further development
of our relations and the rapprochement of our nations.
Thank you for your attention.
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Dear Ilham Heydarovich! Ladies
and gentlemen!
I would like first of all to thank the President of Azerbaijan and all
our Azerbaijani friends for the productive meeting that has taken
place in hospitable Baku, and to fully agree with the assessments that
you have made of Russian-Azerbaijani relations. All our discussions
were friendly and reflected the excellent state of our relations and
our auspicious plans for the future.
Russia and Azerbaijan have long been linked by ties of friendship and
of strategic partnership. And the Declaration that was signed today
contains both of these in its title.
We held extensive talks, and in all frankness I can say that I am
completely satisfied with their results, in particular the signing of
the documents referred to in the Declaration and the other agreements
that we have just signed here.
We extensively discussed trade and economic ties. In recent years
these ties have shown a very positive momentum. Once again allow me to
cite a figure which, in my view, eloquently testifies to the
development of our relations: during the last four months the current
level of trade is twice as high as it was during the corresponding
period last year. It is particularly gratifying that this has
occurred, not only as a result of the growth in energy supplies and
other trade in energy resources, but also because of more complex
exchanges as well as traditional forms of trade. I think this is a
very good trend. We simply have to maintain it in the future.
In recent years, our economies have grown at a faster rate, which
creates opportunities for the future development of joint projects in
such priority areas as energy, industry, transport, banking and
agricultural business. The presidents and governments of our countries
are paying particular attention to all these issues.
There are prospects for new agreements in the field of hydrocarbons
that will enable us to make maximum use of the potential that we have
accumulated, and I think that in the future this will also prove to be
another example of our economic cooperation. Our economies are so
closely linked that they are in effect complementary, and we literally
proceed along the same track in these relations. For us there are no
transit problems: we work with each other, and we have an enormous
geopolitical advantage in this sense.
I agree with the assessment that Ilham Heydarovich offered concerning
cultural cooperation, cooperation in science, education and the
arts. I would like to once again thank Ilham Heydarovich for measures
to preserve Russia's cultural heritage in Azerbaijan.
We greatly appreciate those decisions that were made concerning the
opening of the Baku campus of Moscow State University, another example
of our cooperation. It is clear that receiving quality instruction
will give students the possibilities of focusing on Russia-related
topics and to study in Azerbaijan.
It is also important to talk about the multilateral partnership within
the Commonwealth and the special programmes that Azerbaijan is a part
of.
I hope that the coming festival of young performers, to be held in
Baku this autumn, will prove a showcase for new talent and will be a
beautiful and significant event in Azerbaijan's cultural life.
We discussed other topics. We didn't try to avoid the problem of the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. This is a complex process, and we will
assist moving it forward however possible. There have been minor
hitches but in any case we fully support the resumption of direct
talks between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which were
held on 6 June in St Petersburg. I would emphasise yet again that
Russia will continue to assist in the search for mutually acceptable
solutions in this matter.
Another issue Ilham Heydarovich raised was the Caspian Sea. We talked
about the work that we need to do and of the possibilities for the
upcoming summit, but agreed that we should hold off on them until its
agenda had been finalised.
We also reviewed an agreement on security issues in the Caspian. This
is consistent with the decisions which were taken last year in Tehran
and other documents can be prepared in this regard. It is a good idea
to organise the relevant meetings of the heads of Caspian states for
this purpose.
Once again, I would like to stress that the talks were an important
stage in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations and the
strengthening of strategic partnership and friendship between our
countries, between our peoples.
Let me once again thank President Ilham Aliev for his genuinely
friendly and productive cooperation.
(original source)
President of Russia
Official Web Portal
July 3, 2008,
Baku
Press Statements after Russian-Azerbaijani Talks
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIEV: Dear Dmitry Anatolevich,
distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Once again, I would like to warmly welcome the President of the
Russian Federation to Azerbaijan. We attach great importance to the
official visit of the President of Russia and are confident that the
visit will serve to strengthen the friendly and good-neighbourly
relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Our talks have been very useful, and we have discussed a wide range of
bilateral issues, questions of regional cooperation and international
relations. And I note with satisfaction that we are in basic agreement
concerning all the items on the agenda.
The content of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan has expanded
and been enriched. We are actively cooperating in the political
sphere, economic ties are growing, trade continues to increase apace
and its overall structure is improving. We are cooperating in the
transport sector, cultural spheres, in security and in strengthening
security measures in our region, and this is not an exhaustive list of
all the issues currently under discussion.
Today we signed some very important documents that will determine the
direction of our cooperation in the future. Among them, I would single
out a joint Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership
between Russia and Azerbaijan. The very name of the Declaration speaks
for itself. We see each other as friends, as countries that can call
each other strategic partners. And this is not just a form of words:
it constitutes the very essence of our relationship. These relations
have a solid foundation and a profound history, and today are based on
the principles of friendship, good neighbourliness, equality and
mutual benefit. The Declaration covers all areas of our bilateral
cooperation and it is very gratifying that what we in Azerbaijan
consider the number one issue - the settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ` is also reflected in
the Declaration. It says there that the conflict should be resolved on
the basis of the principles and norms of international law, according
to UN Security Council resolutions and the decisions of the OSCE
relating to territorial integrity, sovereignty and the inviolability
of state borders.
We are grateful to Russia for taking this position and are confident
that this position, as well as Russia's active participation as
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group dedicated to the settlement of the
conflict, will bring about the desired results.
We are now actively discussing issues of energy cooperation, both
existing ones and prospective ones. Cooperation in the energy sector
has a good history and excellent prospects. Cooperation in oil and gas
sphere is also based on historical achievements, and today we are
considering new projects that are of mutual interest that will
maximise the efficient use of hydrocarbon resources.
Our countries are also involved with issues related to the settlement
of the status of the Caspian Sea. We are neighbours in the Caucasus
and on the Caspian Sea, and the level of cooperation between our
countries is largely dependent on the reciprocal development of
processes in the region and on issues of economic integration.
The cultural content of our relations is expanding. Today, I told
Dmitry Anatolevich that in Azerbaijan there are more than three
hundred schools in which Russian is taught, 19 of them purely Russian
schools, where instruction is only in Russian. Recently, it was
decided to establish a branch of Moscow State University in
Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, the largest Russian community in the south
Caucasus, there are a lot of newspapers published in Russian. In other
words, everything that is necessary for the cultural well-being of
Russian-speaking citizens in Azerbaijan is being done. For this reason
the content of our cultural cooperation occupies an important place in
our relations, and we will continue to make efforts to ensure that it
takes on new forms and features new projects. In other words, talk
about our bilateral relations and the role they play here in the
Caucasus can go on for quite a while. I do not want to take up an
inordinate amount of your time, but I do want to say that on all the
issues that were discussed we have a common understanding, a shared
sense of what has been achieved and -- most importantly - good
prospects for the future.
I am confident that the visit will continue as successfully as it
began and will become a very important step in the further development
of our relations and the rapprochement of our nations.
Thank you for your attention.
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Dear Ilham Heydarovich! Ladies
and gentlemen!
I would like first of all to thank the President of Azerbaijan and all
our Azerbaijani friends for the productive meeting that has taken
place in hospitable Baku, and to fully agree with the assessments that
you have made of Russian-Azerbaijani relations. All our discussions
were friendly and reflected the excellent state of our relations and
our auspicious plans for the future.
Russia and Azerbaijan have long been linked by ties of friendship and
of strategic partnership. And the Declaration that was signed today
contains both of these in its title.
We held extensive talks, and in all frankness I can say that I am
completely satisfied with their results, in particular the signing of
the documents referred to in the Declaration and the other agreements
that we have just signed here.
We extensively discussed trade and economic ties. In recent years
these ties have shown a very positive momentum. Once again allow me to
cite a figure which, in my view, eloquently testifies to the
development of our relations: during the last four months the current
level of trade is twice as high as it was during the corresponding
period last year. It is particularly gratifying that this has
occurred, not only as a result of the growth in energy supplies and
other trade in energy resources, but also because of more complex
exchanges as well as traditional forms of trade. I think this is a
very good trend. We simply have to maintain it in the future.
In recent years, our economies have grown at a faster rate, which
creates opportunities for the future development of joint projects in
such priority areas as energy, industry, transport, banking and
agricultural business. The presidents and governments of our countries
are paying particular attention to all these issues.
There are prospects for new agreements in the field of hydrocarbons
that will enable us to make maximum use of the potential that we have
accumulated, and I think that in the future this will also prove to be
another example of our economic cooperation. Our economies are so
closely linked that they are in effect complementary, and we literally
proceed along the same track in these relations. For us there are no
transit problems: we work with each other, and we have an enormous
geopolitical advantage in this sense.
I agree with the assessment that Ilham Heydarovich offered concerning
cultural cooperation, cooperation in science, education and the
arts. I would like to once again thank Ilham Heydarovich for measures
to preserve Russia's cultural heritage in Azerbaijan.
We greatly appreciate those decisions that were made concerning the
opening of the Baku campus of Moscow State University, another example
of our cooperation. It is clear that receiving quality instruction
will give students the possibilities of focusing on Russia-related
topics and to study in Azerbaijan.
It is also important to talk about the multilateral partnership within
the Commonwealth and the special programmes that Azerbaijan is a part
of.
I hope that the coming festival of young performers, to be held in
Baku this autumn, will prove a showcase for new talent and will be a
beautiful and significant event in Azerbaijan's cultural life.
We discussed other topics. We didn't try to avoid the problem of the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. This is a complex process, and we will
assist moving it forward however possible. There have been minor
hitches but in any case we fully support the resumption of direct
talks between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which were
held on 6 June in St Petersburg. I would emphasise yet again that
Russia will continue to assist in the search for mutually acceptable
solutions in this matter.
Another issue Ilham Heydarovich raised was the Caspian Sea. We talked
about the work that we need to do and of the possibilities for the
upcoming summit, but agreed that we should hold off on them until its
agenda had been finalised.
We also reviewed an agreement on security issues in the Caspian. This
is consistent with the decisions which were taken last year in Tehran
and other documents can be prepared in this regard. It is a good idea
to organise the relevant meetings of the heads of Caspian states for
this purpose.
Once again, I would like to stress that the talks were an important
stage in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations and the
strengthening of strategic partnership and friendship between our
countries, between our peoples.
Let me once again thank President Ilham Aliev for his genuinely
friendly and productive cooperation.