DMITRY MEDVEDEV HELD TALKS WITH PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIEV

RIA Oreanda
July 3 2008
Russia

After private talks between the heads of state, the talks continued
with the participation of the delegations of the two countries.

Following their talks the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan signed
a Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership between the
two countries.

In this document Russia and Azerbaijan confirm their position on
the unacceptability of forcible change of internationally recognised
borders, declare their readiness to strengthen cooperation in ensuring
security in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region, and stress
the importance of an accelerated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

The parties stressed that they consider priority tasks to be
strengthening the central role of the UN in international affairs and
increasing its effectiveness with respect to new threats and challenges
to international law. The parties also stated their intention to
strengthen cooperation within the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe and
other organisations and forums, both universal and regional ones.

Moscow and Baku also vowed to enhance the effectiveness of the
Commonwealth of Independent States in articulating timely solutions
to common problems and challenges.

Russia and Azerbaijan declared their intention to strengthen and expand
military and military-technical cooperation, the Declaration states.

In addition, Russia and Azerbaijan call on the Caspian states to
reach an accelerated settlement on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

The following documents were signed in the presence of the heads of
state: an agreement between the foreign ministries on cooperation
in the field of archives and a memorandum between the ministries of
internal affairs on cooperation in protecting transit cargo.

Leaders of the Federal Customs Service of Russia and the State Customs
Committee of Azerbaijan signed an agreement on cooperation in combating
customs violations.

A memorandum between the Federal Agency for State Property
Management of Russia and the State Committee for Property Management
of Azerbaijan was concluded on cooperation in the field of state
property privatization and management.

After the talks the two presidents made statements to the press.