Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Oct 19 2004

MEETING OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AND PRESIDENT OF
RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN
[October 19, 2004, 20:23:08]

President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev on 19 October has met
in the Kremlin President of Russia Vladimir Putin, AzerTAj
correspondent reported.

Warmly greeting Head of the Azerbaijan State, President Vladimir
Putin said he was pleased with his visit to Moscow, underlining that
he has another opportunity to discuss bilateral problems and
expressed confidence that the meeting would pass in full mutual
understanding.

Noting that he was also delightful of seeing President of Russia,
President Ilham Aliyev said it was his third visit to Moscow after he
was elected President and these visits have played important role in
development of bilateral relations.

Expressing his consent with the increasing goods turnover between the
two countries, President of Azerbaijan emphasized that bilateral
political dialogue is also at high level, which proves existence of
large opportunities for development of relations for the interests of
the two peoples.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that Russia as a co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group would make further efforts for the settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

Addressing the Head of Azerbaijan State, President Vladimir Putin
said: `I am very pleased that Your Moscow visit has personal aspect.
I was told that You were sincerely greeted at the ceremony on the
60th anniversary of the Moscow State Institute of International
Relations. You feel yourself a Muscovite’.

Head of the Azerbaijan State reminded that ten years of his life are
connected to this Institute and he had many friends here.

In the meeting, also were discussed issues of realization of the
agreement reached during the official visit of Azerbaijan President
to Moscow in February 2004, execution of the task to raise the goods
turnover twice, the prospects of strengthening of joint activity of
Russia and Azerbaijan in combat against terrorism. The sides
underlined necessity of increasing efforts of world communities in
fighting international terrorism.

The heads of State also had exchange of views related to situation on
the Caucasus region. President of Russia Vladimir Putin welcomed
continuation of meetings related to settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict at the level of
presidents, saying that Russia stands ready to render active
assistance in finding acceptable way of settlement of this conflict.

***

After the meeting, Heads of State had dinner in the Kremlin.