It was stated by Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, General-Colonel Ramil Usubov during his October 8 meeting with the delegation of the Russian Federation led by RF Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushaylo, now staying in our country for a working visit.

Warmly welcoming the guests, the Minister stressed their visit is being paid on the eve of the extremely important event in the life of our country - presidential elections, and pointed out that preparation for the election is going on under calm and stable conditions. At the same time, according to him, although some destructive forces endeavor to violate the stability and public order, their attempts are doomed to defeat because “their social support is very weak”. Azerbaijan people back domestic and foreign policy of our esteemed leader President Heydar Aliyev, highly appreciate the work done for the last decade by the power. Today, the Minister noted, we are building legal, secular and democratic state, which has declared on its peaceful foreign policy, and which is actively integrating into the world community.

General-Colonel Ramil Usubov said: “the friendly ties between our countries have the ancient history; due to the policy carried out for the last years by President of Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, these relations have been constantly enriched and expanded. Our country’s adherence to such policy was reaffirmed during the meeting of Prime-Minister of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in the course of the CIS heads Yalta Summit.”

Minister Ramil Usubov expressed gratitude to the current leadership of the Russian Interior Ministry for careful approach to strengthening co-operation, joint response to the threats of trans-national criminality and international terrorism, and pointed out that the relevant structures of the two countries have gained huge experience in combat against criminality. Dwelling on the problems in combating criminality, Ramil Usubov emphasized the importance of consolidation of the efforts against drug turnover, which has gained a global character.

Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushaylo expressed gratitude to the Interior Minister for the warm reception and hospitality, kind words and detailed information. He noted the delegation had arrived in Azerbaijan on the invitation of Chief of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev. In the course of the visit, negotiations and consultations have been held on a number of issues related to the international and regional security, border cooperation, combat against international terrorism and illegal drug turnover.

The guest expressed satisfaction with the establishment of effective links between both countries’ Ministries of Internal Affairs in joint combat against criminality, terrorism and illegal drug turnover, and with the daily expanding of the mutually beneficial co-operation. The Secretary noted as well that the co-operation is expanding not only in combating criminality, but also in training of highly skilled professionals for interior bodies of our country, information exchange and other spheres.

Touching upon the current level of the bilateral co-operation, V Rushaylo especially emphasized that the important progress and positive changes in relations had occurred due to personal friendly relations between the two countries’ presidents Heydar Aliyev and Vladimir Putin. He expressed confidence that the policy of strategic partnership whose foundation had been laid by the two states’ leaders, would further successfully continued in all spheres including law enforcement policy.

During the reception, the parties have also discussed a number of other issues of mutual interest