AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 21 2004

Russia ready to assist in solving Upper Garabagh conflict

President Ilham Aliyev said in a meeting with his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday that the political dialogue
between the two countries is on a high level.

Aliyev expressed a hope that Russia, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group, will step up its efforts to settle the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Upper Garabagh.
The two presidents discussed implementation of agreements signed
during Aliyev’s official visit to Moscow in February 2004,
fulfillment of tasks set for doubling the turnover of goods between
the two countries and prospects for strengthening the joint combat
against terrorism.

The parties also stressed the need for stepping up the international
community’s efforts to fight international terrorism.
Aliyev and Putin exchanged views on the present-day situation in the
Caucasus region as well. The Russian President welcomed the
continuation of talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
over the solution of the Upper Garabagh conflict. Russia is ready to
assist the sides in settling the conflict, Putin said.