Putin, Aliyev open Year of Azerbaijan in Russia

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Feb 16 2005

In his speech Putin said, “Due to national identity our peoples
always show interest in and will be very important for each other.”
“The most valuable thing is that in all turns of their history Russians
and Azeris assisted to each other and remained reliable allies and
good friends.”

“In the last 10 years the positive development of relations between
Russia and Azerbaijan was conditioned by Geidar Aliyev’s authority
and wisdom. We, Russians, remember and honour his merits,” Putin said.

He recalled, “Brotherhood of our people experienced in the fight
against fascism. We’ll soon mark the 60th anniversary of VE-Day and it
is natural that we’ll celebrate it together.” The Russian president
thanked Aliyev for he accepts the invitation to visit Moscow as part
of the VE-Day celebrations.

Addressing Azerbaijan’s veterans Putin said, “We honour courage and
heroism of 600,000 Azeris who fought on the fronts of World War II
and struggled for the common victory.” A total of 42 Azeris were
given the title of Heroes of the Soviet Union. Twelve Azeris were
awarded complete sets of the Order of Glory.

On the present development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, Putin
said political, economic and cultural cooperation is developing
dynamically. “I mean mutually beneficial cooperation, the creation of
new jobs and migration, the use of the common cultural and information
space, including in the field of education,” the president explained.

He stressed that Russia and Azerbaijan “are a significant factor
of regional stability.” Russia and Azerbaijan “are interested in
using the CIS possibilities more actively in order to solve social
and economic problems and jointly counteract the threats to national
security, terrorism and extremism.”

The Russian president said he is convinced that Russia “seeks to do
its best to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and ensure reliable
stability in the region.”

Putin considers the openness of Year of Azerbaijan in Russia “an
absolutely landmark event.”

“It’s very pleasant that our meeting have become regular. Now you’ve
arrived for such pleasant reason – to open Year of Azerbaijan in
Russia,” the Russian president said.

“We attach much significance to this event. I hope that the year 2005
will facilitate the expansion of bilateral friendly relations. We’ll
become closer,” Aliyev said. He expressed the hope that Year of Russia
in Azerbaijan will be held in 2006.

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