RUSSIA RESPECTS AZERBAIJAN’S DECISION ON RUSSIAN TV BROADCASTS

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
May 21, 2007 Monday 01:22 PM EST

Russia "respects" Azerbaijan’s decision to put Russian television
broadcasts on a commercial basis in the country, Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov said.

"This is a sovereign right of Azerbaijan, and we respect it," Lavrov
said in a meeting with members of the Russian community in Baku
on Monday.

In his words, there is an understanding on both sides that the "issue
has to be solved on a mutual basis".

"Whether we like it or not, relations in many spheres, including in
the CIS, are being put on a market basis. Apart from its important
educational and humanitarian mission, television is also a business,"
the minister said.

More than a month ago, Russia suggested that "appropriate structures
of the two countries should establish contact, hold consultations
and find a mutually acceptable solution".

According to Lavrov, this approach was supported by Azerbaijani
President Ilkham Aliyev. "I think a meeting will take place shortly
and a solution will be found," he added.

The decision to stop Russian television broadcasts in Azerbaijan from
July 10 was made at the end of last year buy the National Council on
Television and Radio Broadcasting. It believes that foreign television
channels should not broadcast on national frequencies and should use
cable and satellite networks.

At the same time, the council does not rule out that Russian
television broadcasts may continue if Russia allows Azerbaijani
television broadcasts in its territory, particularly in regions with
big Azeri communities.

Currently, Russia’s Channel One and Rossia broadcast in Azerbaijan.

Lavrov is in Azerbaijan on a two-day official visit. He has already met
with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov and President Aliyev.

Mamedyarov said earlier that Lavrov’s visit would give a powerful
boost to bilateral relations.

"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.

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.

Lavrov’s meeting and talks in Baku 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 prior to the visit.

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.