President of Azerbaijan: "We are living and will continue to live with our neighbors, and nobody will move from this region" - UPDATED

17.09.08

11:07

Find below the full text of the statements of the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, made for press by results of their one-on-one meeting in Moscow.

D.MEDVEDEV:

Esteemed colleagues!
Esteemed ladies and gentlemen!

I would like to say a few words concerning the visit by our honorable guest, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev.

First of all I would like to welcome you once again and express our gratitude given that our consultations are taking place in a very hectic period for Azerbaijan as the country is preparing for the presidential elections. We praise the fact Ilham Heydarovich has found the time to come to Moscow to discuss the current situation, our bilateral relations and international problems.
Of course, we have talked about development of Russia-Azerbaijan relations – economic, social, humanitarian ones, and also discussed international questions I mean the recent crisis in Caucasus. I have informed in detail Ilham Heydarovich about what Russia had done to ensure security in the South Caucasus, and I believe our active collaboration is one of the key factors in guaranteeing security and stability in the region.

During our talks we have also touched upon our business cooperation, issues which are extremely topical today. Our trade is increasingly growing. We have started our discussions from stressing this fact which in turn demonstrates that our relations have reached a level of strategic partnership. This is good for Russia, this is good for Azerbaijan and this is good for our peoples. The fact that for the last seven months our trade has grown a half, 56 percent, shows that there is a growth potential, and we are going to place a particular emphasis on this. And it is pleasant that the structure of the turnover is also getting better, the President of Azerbaijan has already mentioned this. I completely agree with that as this is very important in terms of developing our economies.

Another question we have discussed is humanitarian relations, and we have successes here as well.

We express our gratitude to Azerbaijan`s leadership, the President, for their efforts towards preserving Russian language, culture and education in the country. We have discussed the opening of a branch of the Moscow state university in Baku, other projects, school education as well as humanitarian relations in general. I consider this our heritage that we, as presidents, must always preserve and attach great importance to.

Of course, we have also touched upon the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Once again I would like to reiterate in this hall just what I have told the President of Azerbaijan – we support continuation of direct negotiations between presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Russia`s stance on this issue remains unchanged. We will continue making every effort to help find a mutually acceptable solution to this complex dispute. I believe we can expect continuation of the dialogue on this issue in the nearest future.

Once again I would like to thank my colleague Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev for making this visit as well as for constructive and friendly talks. I believe the fact we meet so regularly serves our peoples and states, and, of course, contributes to security and stability in our region. Our talks have been constructive and interesting, and, surely, we will continue discussions in the nearest future.

Thank you.

I.ALIYEV:  Esteemed ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, I would like to thank Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev for inviting me to Moscow for this meeting. As Dmitry Anatolyevich has mentioned, our contacts are very intensive, and it is the reflection of the character of relations between our countries. We have met several times, and every time there were a lot of topics to discuss.

Naturally, our bilateral issues are the focus of attention. Dynamically developing relations between Azerbaijan and Russia also have a positive impact on regional processes. We have active economic interaction, very active political dialogue; we are cooperating in humanitarian sphere, and we can see advancement in all of these areas.

Increasing economic potential of Russia and Azerbaijan ensures dynamic development of subjects of economy, companies; issues relating to mutual investments and joint projects are being discussed, that will surely strengthen our ties further.

We are neighbors and have common land and sea borders. And relations between neighbors are of great importance. Relations between neighbors are not always as good as we would like them to be. But in case of Russia and Azerbaijan, I consider their relations as exemplary for other neighboring countries. We are very satisfied with it and are going to continue to make maximum effort to further develop our relations, to enrich them new content, new joint projects, and therefore, promote advancement of our countries and more integration in the region.

Of course, today’s situation in the region raises certain concern, Azerbaijan is ready make its own contribution to reduce tension. Our opinion is that disputed issues in the region should be settled peacefully, through a dialogue, through finding a common ground, and, of course, on the base of mutual respect.

Today, along with bilateral issues, we have discussed processes in the region, settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We count on continuation of Russia’s active involvement in the settlement process as an OSCE Minsk group co-Chair.
Despite the processes taking place in the Caucasus region are very complex, we believe that today there are good prerequisites for the conflict’s resolution in accordance with interests of all parties and principles of international law.

Should the conflict is settled in the near future, then, I am sure, new prospects for regional cooperation in a much broader format will be open to the benefit of all countries. We are living and will continue to live with our neighbors, and nobody will move from this region. That’s why it is necessary to find mechanisms of effective interaction, good neighborhood and cooperation.
I want to say once again that if relations between all neighbors in our region were as good as they are between Russia and Azerbaijan, I assure you, there would never been even misunderstandings, let alone conflicts.

We highly value the existing level of our relations, and will do our best to develop them further. In this context, humanitarian issues are of great importance as well. Dmitry Anatolyevich has pointed to very careful attitude in Azerbaijan towards the Russian language, Russian culture, not only in word but also in deed. Maybe, it is not always known widely, maybe we are not actively engaged in what now called PR, but we believe that above all is to do one’s job conscientiously and honestly; as for information, it will find its reader anyway.

Once again, I would like to thank the President of Russia for the invitation, for the atmosphere created, as usual, so that we could discuss everything very frankly, sincerely, in a friendly manner, that is the reflection of spirit and character of our relations. Thank you.

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16.09.08

19:09

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said during the meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that the meeting in Moscow is an opportunity to see each others and discuss the current state of affairs and development of bilateral relations, which are developing dynamically.

"We are satisfied with this partnership", said Medvedev, Day.Az reports with reference to the press service for the Russian President.

"It is a pride that our relations are not of conjuncture nature. There are positive humanitarian examples. As far as I understand the affiliate of the Moscow university will soon open in Baku.

This is a good event. Certainly, we have to check our clocks considering the problems, which emerged in the Caucasus region following Georgia's aggression and following the recent events. We have not met with you and we have not discussed the development of international situaton. I think it would also be useful considering the interest of our countries in stable and consistent development of our relations and the overall situation in the Caucasus", said Medvedev.

The Azerbaijani President said that the meetings are intensive.

"We have recently met in the framework of our official visit to Azerbaijan and everybody in Azerbaijan especially notes that this was one of your official visits as a president of Russia, which also underlines the nature and spirit of relations between our countries", said Aliyev.

He noted that all plans in humanitarian sector are being executed.

Ilham Aliyev voiced confidence that the consistent development of Azerbaijani-Russian relations will continue and it will gain new forms.

"This frequency of our meetings, in fact, reflects the essence of our relations. Thank you for invitation and I hope for the continuation of fruitful cooperation", concluded Aliyev.

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17:30

The relations between Russia and Azerbaijan serve as an example for other countries, considers Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"Russian-Azerbaijani relations serve an example for others and we are satisfied with that as it promotes stable development of relations", Aliyev told reporters following the talks with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.

"The situation in the region creates definite concerns and Azerbaijan is ready to contribute to reducing tensions", said the Azerbaijani President.

"The issues, creating differences, should be settled peacefully", said he.

I.Aliyev also noted that Azerbaijan hopes for continuation of Russia's active role in the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

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17:20

The trade turnover between Russia and Azerbaijan has grown 56% up to $1 bln through the first seven months of this year, said Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"This is an indicator, that is the growth potential", said Medvedev by results of talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

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17:05

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev confirmed the invariability of the Russian position on Nagorno Karabakh conflict and voiced support to continuation of direct talks of the sides.

This issue was a focuz of talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, said the Russian President by results of the meeting, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

Medvedev noted that he confirmed the invariability of the Russian position and voiced support to continuation of direct talks between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"We have a right to reckon on the continuation of contacts in the very near future", said Medvedev.

He assured Aliyev that Russia will further assist to the search of mutually profitable solution.

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16:35

The effective Russian-Azerbaijani interaction is one of the positive factors of strengthening peace and support of stability in the Caucasus, said Russian President Dmitri Medvedev by results of the talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"I have informed Ilham Aliyev in details about the steps, taken by Russia for ensuring security in the South Caucasus", said the Russian president.

"I think that the active Russian-Azerbaijan interaction in all issues is one of the key factors of ensuring security and stability in the region", said Medvedev.

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16:15

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev considers there are good conditions for the resolution of the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"Despite all problems, today there are good conditions for the resolution of the conflict", Aliyev told reporters following the talks with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.

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15:10

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev considers that the trade turnover between Russia and Azerbaijan will reach $2 bln by the end of the year.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, opening the talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, Dmitri Medvedev said that their next meeting is "an opportunity to discuss the current state of affairs and development of the Russian-Azerbaijani relations, which are developing dynamically".

"We are satisfied with our partnership. The limits we have defined during our visit to Baku, are being reached and I do hope that by the end of this year we will attain the trade turnover of $2 bln, though the situation in the economic sector is not the most favorable, yet it is a pride that our relations are not of conjuncture nature", said Medvedev.

By results of 2007 the trade turnover between Russia and Azerbaijan neared $1,7 bln, which is 5% higher, as compared to 2006. At the same time Russia made 13% of the overall trade turnover of Azerbaijan in 2007.

In turn, the President of Azerbaijan noted that the trade turnover of the two countries is growing faster and its structure is improving.

"We are satisfied with the development of relations and they cover a wide specter", said Aliyev.

He noted that the affiliate of the Moscow State University has recently opened in Baku, which proves the operative settlement of the defined issues.

According to Aliyev, the Russian-Azerbaijani relations "differ with their predictability".

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14:57

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev spoke for consolidation of efforts for restoration of peace, stability and predictability in the Caucasus at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"The region is in need of consolidation of efforts for establishing peace, stability and predictability", said Aliyev.

/Day.Az/, AzerTac