Russian President ends his visit to Azerbaijan - UPDATED

04.07.08

13:00

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has ended his official visit to Azerbaijan. He is leaving Baku for Turkmenistan.

------------
11:15

Russian President, being on the official visit in Azerbaijan, visited Heydar Aliyev's Foundation Thursday.

The Russian president saw the expositions of the foundation and studied the presented documents in details.

He also signed the Honored Guests Book. "I have familiarized with the memorial and exposition devoted to the Great Son of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev with great interest", wrote the Russian President.

"Heydar Aliyev's Foundation keeps the memory of the Azerbaijani leader, the memory, which is necessarty for construction of a strong and prosperous country", noted Medvedev.

--------------
10:00

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev put wreaths to the monuments of heros and grave of Azerbaijan's late president Heydar Aliyev as well as flowers to the grave of Heydar Aliyev's wife.

Later the visitor held a meeting with leaders of Azerbaijan's religious confessions.

"Creation of favorable conditions for interaction and dialogue between all religions is among the key factors of stability in the Caucasus", said Medvedev at the meeting.

"We are aware that you have established a permanent dialogue with all-Russia Patriarch and he considers this dialogue useful", said the Russian President.

He noted that active work within the Russian Jewish community helps fight such events as antisemitism, react to xenophobia and anti-Russian actions.

"The dialogue between religions is important for war on terror as well", said Medvedev.

He noted that over 20 mln Muslims reside in Russia and Russia is a multi-religious country.

"We are a bridge between the East and the West", said Medvedev.

Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Department Allahshukur Pashazade said in turn that Dmitri Medvedev pays special attention to development of religious society.

"We have lived within a single state for over 70 years and these tendencies have recently continued", said the chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Department.

He noted that representatives of Muslims confessions of the Caucasus, living in peace and accord, are happy that Azerbaijan and Russia are headed by young leaders, who can expand cooperation between the confessions of the two countries. "We are settling socioeconomic issues and we will help you settle religious issues", said Pashazade.

He announced that he discussed the conduction of interreligious summit, like the one held in Moscow, in Baku next year, with Patriarch Alexi the Second.

------------
03.07.08

18:45

Russia and Azerbaijan consider that it will be possible to hold the summit of Caspian states only after the agenda is specified, said Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

At the last year summit in Tehran it was decided to hold the next summit in Azerbaijan until the end of 2008.

"We consider that the summit should be conducted when the agenda is formed, particularly, when the agreement on Caspian security as well as other documents is prepared", said Medvedev.

------------
18:35

Russian President Vladimir Medvedev conferred orders of Fame to veteran of Great Patriotic War Aghadadash Samedov, which he was not able to get in 1945 due to heavy injury.

Medvedev noted that the feats of war heroes will be forever in the hearts of thankful descendants, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"No matter how many years have passed, we will always remember their names", said the Russian President. He noted that one can not stay indifferent when reading the award lists of machine gunner A.Samedov. "The whole depth of his deads and self-sacrifice of this brave man is behind the official papers".

----------------
18:10

Russia will promote resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, acceptable for all sides, said Russian President Dmitri Medvedev by results of the talks with the Azerbaijani President.

The Nagorno Karabakh problem was among the main international issues at the talks between the presidents of the two countries.

"We will encourage this process when possible. We approve conduction of the direct meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Saint-Petersburg on July 6.

He noted that Russia will promote search of mutually profitable resolution of this problem.

------------
17:55

"Russia and Azerbaijan will develop cooperation in trade of energy sources", said Russian President Dmitri Medvedev by results of the talks with Azerbaijani President, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"The Presidents and governments of the two countries focus on energy, industry and transport issues. Cooperation in trade of energy resources will soon be developed.

--------------
17:45

Russia and Azerbaijan intend to complete talks and sign a document on state border delimitation.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, the declaration signed by the two President following the talks in Baku Thursday says that the sides are satisfied with the work of the commission on the state border delimitation and speak for the soonest completion of the negotiation process for the purpose of signing due intergovernmental document.

The declaration also notes that Russia and Azerbaijan intend to strengthen and expand military and military and technical cooperation.

"Each party will not allow their establishments, organizations, companies and other economic subjects to hold the activity, which could damage the sovereign right and interests of the other side, on the territory of another country", says the document.

Russia and Azerbaijan also stress importance of the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on the territorial integrity and non-violation of state borders.

"The sides will promote soonest goodwill and safe return of refugees and displaced persons in the result of the conflict", says the document.

The sides also called on the Caspian littoral states to conclude agreements, similar to that signed between Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakhstan on delimination of the Caspian Sea shelf for oil reserves development.


-------------
17:30

Five documents have been signed by results of talks between the Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, the leaders of the two countries have signed a declaration on friendship and strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan.

The Foreign Ministers also signed an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of archive affairs, while the Interior Ministers signed memorandum of mutual interaction in ensuring protection of transit cargo.

Moreover, an agreement was signed between the Russian Federal Customs Service and the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan on cooperation in the sphere of combat with customs offenses. A memorandum was also signed between the Russian Federal Agency for state property management and Azerbaijan state committee for state property management on cooperation in the sphere of state property privatization and its management.

----------------
17:14

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev stresses high potential of cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.

"Russia and Azerbaijan maintain powerful economic ties, which helps us in the resolution of various problems... We are close to $2 bln of trade turnover by results of the year. We have already got closer to the goal. The partial rise in trade turnover has been observed through four months. This means that the potential is very good".

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, Medvedev said it at the expanded talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku.

"These are not only energy resources but also intellectual production, this is what the potential of our countries creates", added the Russian President.

He said during the private meeting the sides discussed complex and perspective issues.

"There is a plan to sign different documents, featuring our relations", said the Russian President.

In turn, Aliyev called talks with his Russian counterpart successful.

"We have discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral, regional and international concern. The results of the talks are very positive", said the Azerbaijani President.

He voiced confidence that "Russian President's visit will be successful and all agreements will be fulfilled and raise our relations on a new level".

"Azerbaijan highly appreciates that you have arrived in Azerbaijan within a short time after your inauguration. This proves not only the nature of our relations and it will further strengthen our relations", said Aliyev.

------------
16:45

The private meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia has ended, said the press service for the president.

The meeting continues in an expanded form. A number of agreements on cooperation in various spheres will be signed following the talks.

Among these documents, there is a declaration of friendship and strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan. A joint briefing will be held following the documents signing.

------------
16:30

The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia met in private.

According to APA, the Russian guest was greeted in the official residence of the Azerbaijani President before talks.

The heads of states familiarized each others with the delegation members. The Presidents took photoes in the residential foyer and started the private meeting.

The expanded meeting will be held later.

-----------
15:51

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev is confident that his talks in the Azerbaijani capital will be successful and will promote expansion of ties between the peoples of the two countries.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, Medvedev holds talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Zaqulba residence.

"I am happy to be your guest, even so more we have met in Saint Petersburg and it is good that our meeting was held so quickly after the recent one", said Medvedev.

He is confidence that "the talks will be constructive and meet the interests of our peoples and the nature of our relations".

He noted that a declaration and a number of other documents will be signed today.

The Azerbaijani President thanked Medvedev for coming to Azerbaijan after being elected the Russian President.

"This is a good sign of cooperation. I am confident that the visit will be successful and will promote expansion of our relations", said Aliyev.

"We have a broad agenda and I am sure that the visit will be successful and effective", added he.

-------------
15:25

According to APA, the Russian President was greeted at Heydar Aliyev's airport.

During the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, the sides will mainly discuss prospects of bilateral cooperation. During the talks the sides will discuss issues on the status and security of the Caspian Sea. The talks will possibly touch upon the Iranian problem. The Presidents will also exchange views on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Medvedev will also visit the Honored alley and Martyrs' Alley.

By results of the talks on the high level it is planned to sign declaration on friendship and strategic partnership between Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as a number of documents on cooperation between the Foreign Ministry and Interior Ministry of the two countries, as well as in customs and property spheres.

During Medvedev's meeting with heads of religious confessions of Azerbaijan, the sides will focus on interreligious interaction, role of Islam in world religion, as well as cooperation between the state and religion in combat with international terrorism.

During the visit of the Russian President to Azerbaijan, he will be accompanied by Russian Foreign Minister, Interior Minister, Energy Minister, a number of Russian regions' leaders, head of the Federal Customs Service and head of the Federal Agency on State Property Management.

Moreover, a large group of Russian businessmen, particularly, Lukoil president, head of Vneshtorgbank, chiarman of Gazprom, president of Alfa-Bank, head of Russian railway administration will arrive in Baku.

------------
14:36

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has arrived in the Azerbaijani capital.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, the Russian President will visit Heydar Aliyev's foundation in the framework of the visit.

Azerbaijan will become the first country in the weekly Asian tour of the President during which he will visit four countries, attend the G8 summit and hold over ten meetings with his foreign counterparts, including the heads of the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany and, probably, Georgia.

-------------
10:51

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has left Moscow for Baku today, reports Day.Az with reference to Vremya website.

The gas issue will be at the top of the agenda during the meeting between Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia Ilham Aliyev and Dmitri Medvedev.

PRIME-TASS agency reports that the program envisions private and expanded talks with President Ilham Aliyev as well as a meeting with religious communities representatives.

By results of the talks, the Presidents are expected to pass a joint declaration.

/Day.Az/