Third Russian-Azerbaijani interregional forum adopts final declaration - UPDATE - PHOTOS

Participants of the Third Russian-Azerbaijani inter-regional forum "Russia-Azerbaijan dialogue 2012" adopted the final declaration.

The dialogue participants, confirming readiness to contribute to the development of Russian-Azerbaijani dialogue by increasing fruitfulness of the links between subjects of Azerbaijan and Russia consider it necessary to develop cooperation in several areas. These areas cover cooperation in creating favourable conditions for the development of mutually beneficial trade, improving the bilateral contractual framework in labor migration, developing industrial cooperation, intensifying inter-regional dialogue in the fuel and energy, industrial and transport sectors, forming competitive conditions for economic entities located in the two countries, cooperation in the financial sector.

The document reflected the issue of ensuring favourable conditions for the development of ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious backgrounds, taking into account the special role of the Azerbaijani and Russian communities in the protection of Russian diaspora in Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia.

At the same time, the forum participants noted the importance of signing in the near future of a long-term economic cooperation program between the two countries.

Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department Head Ali Hasanov noted that various aspects of inter-regional Azerbaijani-Russian relations have been discussed for three years.

"The forum is attended by representatives of various sectors - media, NGOs and individual experts. The expansion of ties between the youth is discussed. It is advisable to raise the status of this forum, giving it the interstate status. The Azerbaijani side is very satisfied with the results of today's forum, which we will analyze. The Azerbaijani state and people intend to continue strategic cooperation with Russia," Hasanov said.

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12:55

The Third Russian-Azerbaijani interregional forum started today in Baku. The Forum is organized by the Russian Fund of Development “Institute of the Eurasian Researches” institute with support of administrations of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia.

Representatives of administrations of the presidents of both countries, parliaments, bodies of the central and regional executive powers, scientific and educational institutions, business structures, mass media and NGOs take part in work of the Forum.The goal of the Forum is to study conditions of economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and regions of the Russian Federation, to prepare offers and recommendations about further expansion of existing relations.

Participants of the Forum familiarized with the photo-exhibition titled “Russia-Azerbaijan: history of diplomatic relations”. At plenary session of the Forum, representatives of Azerbaijan and Russia made reports on various subjects.

In the second half of day the Forum will continue work in round tables. The parties will discuss questions of cooperation of Russia and Azerbaijan in the field of infrastructure, energy projects, financial-banking system, transport strategy, in the humanitarian sphere, the questions connected with strategic cooperation in the Caspian region.

It is pertinent here to mention that between Azerbaijan and Russia there is close cooperation in economic, scientific, technical and humanitarian spheres. In 2011, commodity turnover between two countries increased in comparison with previous year for 47,4 percent and made $2 billion 828 million.

Currently, 70 of 83 subjects of the Russian Federation cooperate with Azerbaijan. In 1994-2012s, the governments of Azerbaijan and subjects of the Russian Federation have signed more than 30 cooperation agreements in trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural spheres. The closest cooperation exists with such subjects of the Russian Federation as the Republics of Dagestan, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, the Krasnodar and Stavropol Oblasts, the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Volgograd, Moscow, Sverdlovsk, Samara, Rostov, Perm, Chelyabinsk, Tula, Belgorod and Nizhny Novgorod areas. The share of these regions in total amount of trade turnover with Russia last year made up 81,7 percent.

/AzerTAc/