ITAR-TASS GENERAL DIRECTOR: AZERBAIJAN, RUSSIA MUST STRENGTHEN AND KEEP BILATERAL RELATIONS
Trend
Jan 19 2010
Azerbaijan
Russian news agency ITAR-TASS General Director Vitaly Ignatenko gave
an exclusive interview to Trend News on the eve of the inter-state
forum of the Azerbaijani-Russian community in Baku.
Q: Vitaliy Nikitich, could you tell us about the upcoming visit to
Baku and about the agenda of the event scheduled for Jan. 21-24? Who
is in the Russian delegation? What meetings are expected to be held
during the visit and what your expectations?
A: This is the first intergovernmental forum of the Azerbaijani-Russian
community. It is important that its organizers are both Azerbaijan
and Russia.
The delegation consisting of the Presidential Administration Head
Sergey Naryshkin, Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeev, Rector of the
Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO), Academician
of Russian Academy of Sciences Anatoly Torkunov, the Federal Agency on
CIS Affairs head Farit Mukhametshin, members of the Russian Ministry
of Communications and the heads of Russian media outlets.
This great meeting has very specific purposes for the relations
between the two countries. Maybe the meeting will facilitate ways of
joint scientific research, experimentations and solving big creative
tasks. So, a few major sections will be held during the work in Baku.
The task is to find a common feature in the discussion, ways to
overcome some bureaucratic schemes and find the bridges for rapid
implementation of joint plans.
Q: How do you assess the current level of Russian-Azerbaijani
relations? What is the level of humanitarian cooperation and
intercultural dialogue between the countries?
A: The humanitarian sphere is so multifaceted and profound, that it
is impossible to reach the top. It is necessary to work all the time
and move towards improving our relationship.
The relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are very good in the
humanitarian sphere. But the best result is always ahead. The more we
work in this area, the more we raise the level of our relations. So,
it is important for our countries and more fruitful for the development
of relations in other spheres.
Such meetings, as the planned event in Baku, make a living tissue,
which is a fundamental principle in the inter-state relations. We
understand that the negotiations are held between the presidents and
prime ministers at the top level. Very serious decisions are made
there. But if there is no close, active communication between the
citizens of our countries, the policy may slip, get bogged down and
have a completely different speed. But now we should cherish every day.
Azerbaijan in this sense has made the right choice. There are serious
projects, and big and productive solutions. Now we must strengthen,
continue and initiate new contacts in the sphere of bilateral
relations.
Q: You are the head of the agency and you are a respected member of
an international media association. How do you assess the level of
Russian-language press in Azerbaijan? What are the priorities for
our media outlets now?
A: We are pleased with the level of interaction between our Russian
media outlets with all the media outlets in Azerbaijan. Of course,
it is very important to maintain a Russian-language information sphere
not only in terms of journalism, but also in the literary sphere. It is
also very important in Azerbaijan, and particularly in Baku. We have a
lot of meetings. We know and are very satisfied with such cooperation.
Q: How do you assess the prospects of Russia’s mediation in the
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement?
A: Russia’s mediation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a very
important part in the negotiations. Certainly, Russia will play
its role to the end. It is always on the agenda of our political
leadership. Of course, there are prospects for progress in this
context in the future.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress