MEDVEDEV BRIEFS ALIYEV ON STEPS TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Interfax
Sept 16 2008
Russia

Intensive interaction between Russia and Azerbaijan helps strengthen
peace and stability in the Caucasus, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
told journalists after talks with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev in
Moscow on Tuesday.

"We have exchanged views on how the situation in the region could
develop, especially in the context of the well known events in the
Caucasus," the Russian president said.

"I informed the Azeri president in detail about Russia’s steps to
guarantee security in the South Caucasus and I think that Russian-Azeri
active interaction is an important and key factor of strengthening
peace and maintaining stability in the region," he said

A strong emphasis was put on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement,
he said. "I reasserted Russia’s firm position, expressed support
for further direct talks between the Azeri and Armenian presidents
and assured Ilham Aliyev that Russia would continue assisting the
search for a mutually acceptable solution in every possible way,"
Medvedev said.

"The talks also dealt with how versatile Russian-Azeri international
relations could be broadened and efforts in the world arena
coordinated," the Russian president said.

The parties discussed issues pertaining to improvement of "business
interaction between the two countries, including in the energy sector,"
Medvedev said.

"We reached the conclusion that quite decent results have been attained
on the whole, which are especially noticeable in the trade and economic
sectors – the backbone of our cooperation," Medvedev said.