STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM 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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