Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Russia make joint statement
Baku, April 3 (AZERTAC). The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Russia made a joint statement on the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.
Twenty years ago, on April 4 1992, a protocol on establishment of the diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Russia was signed. During this period, the bilateral cooperation has been rapidly developing and aiming at mutual and constructive ties in the spirit of friendship and good-neighboring between the nations of Russia and Azerbaijan.
The strategic nature of Azerbaijani-Russian partnership was reflected in the bilateral documents - Agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual security between Azerbaijan and Russia, July 3, 1997, the Baku (2001 and 2008) and Moscow (2008) declarations. An important milestone in further expansion and strengthening of the bilateral relations was the signing of an agreement on state border between Azerbaijan and Russia, September 3, 2010.
Today, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia is stable and progressive. The saturated political dialogue and first of all, regular contacts of the heads of the two countries give impetus to its development. The active interparliamentary relations play a big positive role.
The relations between the two countries have huge potential and are aimed at future. We stress a common decision of Azerbaijan and Russia to continue successive and firm joint work to solidify and enrich mutual relations.
The standards and quality of Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation in trade and economic sector increase from year to year. In 2001, trade exceeded 2.5 billion dollars. There are good prospects for its further increase due to more active involvement of Azerbaijani and Russian regions.
We attach vital importance to humanitarian cooperation based on ancient traditions of mutual respect between our nations, shared historic and cultural heritage. Exchange and close cooperation in culture and art, science and education, information and youth policy are fruitfully developing.
The results of Baku International Humanitarian Forum under patronage of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia held on October 10-11 2011 are praiseworthy. Its subject goes with realities of the modern globalizing world and allows adequately appraising humanitarian aspects of challenges of the 21st century, search for ways of resolution of the relevant problems. We support annual conducting of the forum.
We confirm our determination to promote development of favorable conditions for preservation and development of the cultural originality and traditions of Azerbaijani and Russian Diasporas taking into account a special role of both communities in approaching two friendly countries` nations.
We praise results of the activity of the Russian information-cultural center in Baku and we are sure that opening of the Azerbaijani information-cultural center in Moscow will further strengthening of bilateral humanitarian relations. Functioning of the branch of the Moscow State University after M.V. Lomonosov in Baku and the branch of the Azerbaijani State University of Economics in Derbent is of great importance.
We reaffirm significance of the Declaration on friendship and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Russia, July 3, 2008, in particular, an importance of the provisions concerning the soonest resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of norms and principles of the international law and first of all, in ensuring sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders and relevant resolutions of the UN Council of Security and decisions of OSCE. We also reaffirm resolutions of the joint declaration of the heads of delegation of the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries and Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the OSCE summit in Astana (Kazakhstan), December 1 2010.
We attach great significance to bilateral consultations between Russia and Azerbaijan on legal status of the Caspian Sea aimed at execution of the agreements, which have been reached at the 3rd Caspian summit in Baku, November 18, 2010. We support the work of the special working group at a level of deputy foreign ministers of Caspian littoral states.
We stress significance of the Commonwealth of Independent State as an important mechanism of dialogue and interaction between the participating countries.
We intend to strengthen and expand coordination within the UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe and other international organizations.
We express with satisfaction that election of Azerbaijan as a non-permanent member of the UN Council of Security promotes deepening of international cooperation, strengthening peace, security and stability in the region.
We are sure that forward development of Azerbaijani-Russian relations will help to realize interests and hopes of our nations, strengthen international prestige of both countries as supporters of global stability and security and will make a joint contribution to supporting peace and mutual understanding on the planet.
The city of Baku, April 3 2012