PROGRAM ON HUMANITARIAN CO-OPERATION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND RUSSIA ADOPTED

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
April 11 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend I.Alizade / During the meeting on 10
April of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijan Parliament], a program on the
co-operation between Azerbaijan and Russia in the humanitarian sector
in 2007-2009 was adopted.

MP Shamsaddin Hajiyev, the Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary
Commission on Science Baku in 2006. The program envisages the
development of co-operation in the humanitarian sector during the
period 2007 to 2009 and reflects measures on the development in all
humanitarian areas, including concrete co-operation in science and
education. "The program covers work on the expansion of opportunities
for education in Azerbaijani and Russian languages," he noted.

Addressing the meeting, MP Nasib Nasibli said that in accordance
with the program, Azerbaijan and Russia are to co-ordinate several
humanitarian issues, particularly with regards to the history. He said
that the Russian historians have their own feelings on the Caucasus,
the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict, the Armenians entering the Caucasus
and other historic events. Azerbaijan was under Russian occupation,
while the Russian and Azerbaijan historians have different opinions
on this issue.

Noting the weak potential of Russian universities, the MP opposed
co-operating with this country, describing Russia as a student of
West. He recommended Azerbaijan co-operate with the West with regards
to education.

MP Jamil Hasanli did not agree with his counterparts. He stated that
Russia possesses great scientific potential and believes co-operation
with Russia in this sector to be very fruitful. However, he opposed
the proposal of coordinating the co-operation in the sphere of history.

MP Yagub Mahmudov noted the presence of contradictory milestones
in the second item of the agreement. Article 31 of the program
indicates that Azerbaijanis residing in Russia and Russians residing
in Azerbaijan can receive education in their native language but the
third item of the article contradicted this. Russians can receive
education in their native language in secondary and high schools,
whilst Azerbaijanis only receive education in their native language
at Sunday schools. The MP regarded this as inequality.

After tense discussions, the Milli Majlis adopted the Program.