Interfax, Russia
March 13 2009
Baku-Moscow ties develop positively – Azeri official
BAKU March 13
The accelerating pace of contacts between senior Azeri and Russian
officials confirms the stable and positive nature of bilateral
relations, Fuad Akhundov, director of the Azeri presidential
administration’s department, told Interfax.
"Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s working trip to Baku and an
earlier visit of Russian presidential chief-of-staff Sergei Naryshkin
to the Azeri capital have made an important contribution to the
strengthening of today’s atmosphere of openness, confidential dialogue
and partnership in bilateral relations," Akhundov said.
"The most important task today is to maintain and bolster the positive
effect of the Moscow declaration in order to hold a successful and
productive meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
A proposal has been put forth to hold it during the Eastern
Partnership summit in Prague. Russia can and should play a key role in
this process," the official said.
Lavrov’s March 11-12 visit to Baku included an exchange of views on a
new topic – the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative proposed for six
CIS member-states, he said. "I am pleased that Moscow respects
Azerbaijan’s aspirations related to integration with Europe and its
position on participation in this project," he said.
"As far as the Eastern Partnership project is concerned, Azerbaijan
views this initiative as a convenient opportunity to boost its
cooperation with the EU and its participants in three areas, including
politics and security, the economy and energy, as well as humanitarian
contacts and cooperation," the official said.