ITAR-TASS general director: Russia will play its role in resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the end

Q: Vitaliy Nikitich, could you tell us about the upcoming visit to Baku and about the agenda of the event scheduled for Jan. 21-24? Who is in the Russian delegation? What meetings are expected to be held during the visit and what your expectations?
 
A: This is the first intergovernmental forum of the Azerbaijani-Russian community. It is important that its organizers are both Azerbaijan and Russia.

The delegation consists of the Presidential Administration Chief Sergey Naryshkin, Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeyev, Rector of the Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO), Academician of Russian Academy of Sciences Anatoly Torkunov, the Federal Agency on CIS Affairs head Farit Mukhametshin, members of the Russian Ministry of Communications and the heads of Russian media outlets.

This great meeting has very specific purposes for the relations between the two countries. Maybe the meeting will facilitate ways of joint scientific research, experimentations and solving big creative tasks. So, a few major sections will be held during the work in Baku.

The task is to find a common feature in the discussion, ways to overcome some bureaucratic schemes and find the bridges for rapid implementation of joint plans.

Q: How do you assess the current level of Russian-Azerbaijani relations? What is the level of humanitarian cooperation and intercultural dialogue between the countries?

A: The humanitarian sphere is so multifaceted and profound that it is impossible to reach the top. It is necessary to work all the time and move towards improving our relationship.

The relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are very good in the humanitarian sphere. But the best result is always ahead. The more we work in this area, the more we raise the level of our relations. So, it is important for our countries and more fruitful for the development of relations in other spheres.

Such meetings, as the planned event in Baku, are vital and represent fundamental principles in the inter-state relations. We understand that the negotiations are held between the presidents and prime ministers at the top level. Very serious decisions are made there. But if there is no close, active communication between the citizens of our countries, the policy may slip, get bogged down and have a completely different speed. But now we should cherish every day.
Azerbaijan has made the right choice in this sense.

There are serious projects, and big and productive solutions. Now we must strengthen, continue and initiate new contacts in the sphere of bilateral relations. 

Q: You are head of the agency and you are a respected member of an international media association. How do you assess the level of Russian-language press in Azerbaijan? What are the priorities for our media outlets now?

A: We are pleased with the level of interaction between our Russian media outlets with all the media outlets in Azerbaijan. Of course, it is very important to maintain a Russian-language information sphere not only in terms of journalism, but also in the literary sphere. It is also very important in Azerbaijan, and particularly in Baku. We are very satisfied with such cooperation.

Q: How do you assess the prospects of Russia's mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement?

A: Russia's mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a very important part in the negotiations. Certainly, Russia will play its role to the end. It is always on the agenda of our political leadership. Of course, there are prospects for progress in this context in the future.

/Trend News/