ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
May 19, 2007 Saturday 10:03 AM EST

Russian FM’s visit to Azerbaijan to boost bilateral relations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s upcoming official visit to
Azerbaijan on May 21-22 will give a powerful boost to bilateral
relations, Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said.

“I am convinced that the visit of my Russian colleague and friend
Sergei Lavrov and the upcoming talks and consultations in Baku on
bilateral cooperation and current international issues will give a
powerful boost for further development of our relations,” the
minister said an in interview published by Rossiiskaya Gazeta on
Saturday.

The minister stressed, “Dynamic development of economic and
humanitarian cooperation between our countries is harmoniously
complemented by an active political dialogue and interaction that are
mutually respectful, equal, confidential and mutually advantageous.”

Mamedyarov noted particularly that “the positive nature of political
cooperation between our countries is a serious factor of stability in
the South Caucasus.”

The Azerbaijani foreign minister noted Baku’s traditional position
that “The Russian language and Russian culture preserve their
importance as one of the elements for the development of Azerbaijani
culture as a multiethnic and pluralistic phenomenon.”

“There are dozens of educational institutions in Azerbaijan that
teach the Russian language at a high professional level and train
specialists in Russian culture, art and history,” the minister said.

However he believes that “the training of specialists in the
Azerbaijani language, culture and history in Russian universities
would also serve the interests of harmonious bilateral humanitarian
interaction and the promotion of mutual understanding and respect in
bilateral relations.”

“The implementation of this initiative would symbol aspirations for
greater understanding and interaction between our countries and
peoples,” Mamedyarov said.

During the visit, Lavrov will also meet with President Ilkham Aliyev
and Prime Minister Artur Rasi-zade.

The meetings will centre on the “implementation of top-level accords
to bring inter-state relations to a qualitatively new level by
improving interaction in all spheres,” the Russian Foreign Ministry
said earlier.

Lavrov’s talks with Mamedyarov will focus on discussing “the
possibility of deepening cooperation within the framework of the CIS
and enhancing the coordination of actions in international
organisations”.

“There will be a review of steps for interaction in the U.N., the
OSCE, and the Council of Europe,” the ministry said.

The foreign ministers will also discuss Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.

“Russia is set to assist the parties to the conflict in finding a
compromise. But the main responsibility for the final choice of the
settlement formula is with the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians,” the
Foreign Ministry said.

Russia “would be ready to support a solution to the problem that
suits the parties, and in case of reaching a compromise it will act
as a guarantor of settlement”.

Lavrov will discuss the Caspian Sea’s status, security in the region,
and prospects for holding the second Caspian summit.

“The assessment by Azerbaijan’s leader of the current state of and
prospects for relations between our countries is important to us. For
Russia, Azerbaijan is an important long-term strategic partner,” the
ministry said.

“The economic aspect of cooperation becomes increasingly important.
The high tempo of economic growth in Russia and Azerbaijan increases
the attractiveness of the countries in terms of the development of
mutually beneficial cooperation. There are good prospects for
broadening interaction in the fuel and energy sector, in the field of
research-intensive technology, innovation activities, as well as
economic ties between Russia’s regions and Azerbaijan,” the Foreign
Ministry said.