RUSSIANS AND AZERIS ARE RELIABLE ALLIES AND GOOD FRIENDS – PUTIN

RIA Novosti, Russia
Feb 16 2005

MOSCOW, February 16 (RIA Novosti) – On Wednesday night the presidents
of Russia and Azerbaijan participated in the official ceremony of
opening the Year of Azerbaijan in Russia.

“For all their national originality our peoples have always been of
interest and importance to each other. What is especially valuable,
at every turn of history Russians and Azeris supported each other,
remaining reliable allies and good friends”, President Vladimir
Putin said.

He noted the role of the former president of Azerbaijan, Geidar
Aliev. “In the last decade the positive development of relations
between Azerbaijan and Russia has become possible thanks to the
authority and wisdom of Geidar Aliev. We in Russia remember and
cherish his merits and memory”, the Russian head of state said.

“The brotherhood among our peoples has been tempered by fire in the
struggle against fascism”, Mr.Putin noted. “The 60th anniversary of
Victory is approaching and we will, certainly, mark it together”.

The Russian president thanked President Ilham Aliev for accepting
his invitation to visit Moscow on May 8-9 of this year.

“We cherish the courage and heroism of 600,000 Azeris which selflessly
fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War and forged our common
victory”, the Russian president said. And recalled that 42 Azeris
became Heroes of the Soviet Union and 12 full-class holders of the
Order of Glory.

As to the present day of Russian-Azeri relations, Mr.Putin stressed
that the political, economic and cultural dialog between Russia
and Azerbaijan is actively developing. “It is mutually beneficial
cooperation, job placement and migration, use of the common cultural
and information space, including in the sphere of education”, he said.

Mr.Putin called the partnership of Russia and Azerbaijan “a significant
factor of regional stability”. Russia and Azerbaijan “are in equal
degree interested in more active use of the opportunities of the CIS
for the solution of common socio-economic problems, joint opposition
to national security threats, terrorism and extremism”.

Mr.Putin assured that Russia “seeks to worthily untie the Karabakh
knot and ensure reliable security in the region”.

In conclusion President Putin said that Russia “stands for the
closest cooperation with Azerbaijan and feels the same mood in the
Azeri colleagues”.