President Putin completed his visit to Azerbaijan

February 22
21:30

This afternoon President Putin completed his two-day visit to Azerbaijan and left for Moscow.

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17:55

"The Russian-Azerbaijani relations are at the very high level and have gained a serious positive dynamics of development. It refers to the political sphere of our mutual cooperation, economics and humanitarian field," the Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement today in Baku during the joint news conference with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

According to him, the negotiations, as always, were very sincere and efficient. The Russian President voiced confidence that opening of the Year of Russia in Azerbaijan will be one more serious additional impetus for development of relations in the field of humanitarian contacts.

Putin said, political interaction of the both countries is at a very high level and a permanent contact is maintained at the level of Foreign Ministries, governments and departments of Azerbaijan and Russia. Besides, according to him, there is a field which is especially attractive, it is economics. "We have reached not only tasks we set but gained a very good tempo for the development, especially on extremely important and sensitive for us fields of cooperation.

They are energy, machine-building, transport and communications, agriculture, steel industry and the sphere without which business is not possible to be developed – a financial sphere. I reckon very much that those innumerous contacts which are maintained between the business people and representatives of the regions will give positive effect in the shortest time," Putin underscored.

In his turn President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said said that both countries' views on many issues characterizing the current development of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as the region and the global politics.

According to him, during the two-day visit of the Russian delegation headed by the President Vladimir Putin "wide range of issues of bilateral and regional cooperation have been discussed."

"We are confident, during the Year of Russia in Azerbaijan our peoples will get even closer, we will also cooperate actively on the political level, intensify trade relations and cooperate further in the humanitarian field. In other words, in all aspects of our cooperation we count on continuation and strengthening of those positive tendencies, which had formed during the latest 5-6 years," Aliyev said.

President of Azerbaijan said, the relations between Russia and Azerbaijan may become a model for relations between the neighbours. "Our relations are actually good neighbourly, sincere, friendly and it enables to develop our country's economies more actively, to collaborate actively in all directions which also paves good prerequisites for large investment projects, economic relations between our countries," he said.

Speaking of the Russian-Azerbaijani business-forum President voiced hope that its results "will be displayed soon in specific projects and decisions."

"Thus, doubling of the goods turnover which has been achieved during two years will be likely to be just the stage in the development of the long-term active economic cooperation between our countries. There is potential for that. The economies of our countries are developing dynamically. Russia takes the first place in the trade turnover of Azerbaijan with other states and, naturally we count on further cooperation," he underlined.

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17:05

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have signed a joint statement in Baku on Wednesday pledging to step up bilateral cooperation in countering international terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal arms trade.

The two countries also agreed to move to complete the delimitation of their border.

The border "should remain one of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation," the statement reads.

Aliyev and Putin reiterated their commitment to respecting both nations' sovereignty, territorial integrity, the inviolability of their borders and other accepted principles of international law.

"The presidents of the two countries spoke in favor of finding a political solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as soon as possible on the basis of appropriate resolutions of the UN Security Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and with the help of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, the U.S. and France," the document reads.

In a joint statement both Presidents have underscored the importance of an upcoming summit of the five Caspian littoral countries in Tehran signed in Baku on Wednesday.

"The countries emphasized the need for further negotiations aimed at determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea, including talks within the framework of a working group comprising the Caspian states' deputy foreign ministers," the statement reads.

The presidents also praised the role of the Caspian countries' cooperation in countering terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the illegal arms trade, drug trafficking and illegal migration.

"They supported the idea of establishing a mechanism of cooperation between the Caspian states to maintain security in the Caspian Sea region," the statement reads.

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15:30

President Putin and President Aliyev visited the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Fotos, documents and personal stuff of the late President Heydar Aliyev were shown to Vladimir Putin. Russian guest made a note in honorary book.

Later on this day Presidents discussed actual problems during the working lunch, RIA Novosti informs.

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15:20

On the results of the Azerbaijani-Russian negotiations held today in Baku, the first vice Premier of the Azerbaijan government Abbas Abbasov and the governor of the Sverdlovsk province Eduard Rossel have signed the agreement on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation.

Vladimir Putin called negotiations in Baku very efficient. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has also voiced his satisfaction by the negotiations. According to him, he reckons, after the visit the sides will reach even larger results in all aspects and lines, for which a political will of the both countries' heads, as well as an active cooperation between the governments of the both states is available.

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15:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have launched talks at the Presidential Palace. The two leaders held first a tete-a-tete conversation and then continued talks with the participation of the two countries' delegations, RIA Novosti informs.

"The Year of Russia in Azerbaijan has begun successfully," Aliyev said greeting Putin. "A wonderful event was held yesterday (a concert in honour of the Year of Russia opening). I hope that the year will pass the same way – in the atmosphere of strengthening of friendship, cooperation and good neighbourly relations," the Azerbaijani president emphasised.

"I have no doubts in this," Putin replied. "The masters of arts gave us an enjoyable performance and if the bilateral cooperation develops in all directions the same way, and we have all chances for this, then I'm sure the whole year will be successful," the Russian president pointed out.

Opening the talks Ilham Aliyev voiced his satisfaction by today's meeting tete-a-tete held with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The head of the Azerbaijan state said there were discussions, both on the issues of the bilateral cooperation and the regional ties. Equal positions are observed on all subjects discussed, he noted.

Aliyev said, economic development of the both countries is going on dynamically, new perspective lines are opening which also facilitate cooperation in other fields. President of Azerbaijan has no doubts, after the visit the relations between the countries will strengthen more. "It meets our national interests," Aliyev summarized.

Vladimir Putin said earlier there had been discussions on complicated international issues and the Karabakh problem. According to him, today he had also a comprehensive conversation on a wide range of issues with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Trend reports.

Touching upon the issue of economic links development the President of the Russian Federation said, the sides reached the level of the goods turnover which they had agreed upon 2 years ago, ahead of the scheduled time. According to him, trade between Russia and Azerbaijan had increased by 40% in 2005 to about $1 billion, which proves that the sides are on the right way.

A number of Russian companies to expand their activities in Azerbaijan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Vladimir Putin said cooperation could develop in two directions: the modernization of existing electricity generating capacities and the construction of a new facility near the city of Sumgait.

"We sell a considerable amount of gas to Azerbaijan. I do not rule out that we'll be able to continue cooperation from the viewpoint of supplying hydrocarbons to Azerbaijan but we proceed from the fact that we'll develop joint activities," Putin said.

Putin said Russian companies were operating on the Azerbaijani market, including leading oil firm LUKoil, and these businesses were interested in expanding their activities on the local market.

According to Putin, Azerbaijan's support for the business initiatives of Russian entrepreneurs contributed to this cooperation.

Putin also said leading Russian metals producer RusAl intended to invest large funds in the metals sector of Azerbaijan.

The Russian president also said Azerbaijani companies had placed orders for engineering products at Russian enterprises. "I am convinced that they will be satisfied with the result," Putin said.

Putin also said bilateral cooperation in the financial and banking sectors, and also transport and communications held good prospects, RIA Novosti reports.

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February 21
21:30

The Russian president said Tuesday that insulting religious feelings was unacceptable and called on government bodies to be highly responsible in the issue. "Insulting religious feelings is unacceptable and illegal," Vladimir Putin said meeting with leaders of religious communities in Azerbaijan.

The president said it was necessary to foresee grave consequences that some or other casual words, not to mention actions, might cause.

His statement comes against the backdrop of a wave of anger that engulfed the Muslim world after cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed were published in a Danish newspaper and then re-printed in some Western countries.

President Vladimir Putin backed the idea of holding a summit of religious leaders in Moscow in July, RIA "Novosti" informs.

"We strongly support the policy aimed to strengthen inter-religious and interethnic dialogue," Putin said.

"This is why we hail the initiative of Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II to hold the International summit of religious leaders in Moscow on July 4-5," the president added.

At the meeting the Russian President was rewarded with Sheik-Ul-Islam order, set by Allahshukur Pashazade, the head of the Caucasus Moslem Board, in 2005. The order consists of two eight-point stars, set on each other. There is azure circle in the center of the order, where such Islamic symbols as the Sun and the Moon, as well as white dove and two roses are reflected. The order is made of rubies and white gold, Trend informs.

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21:00

Humanitarian cooperation with Russia is in demand in the Azerbaijani society, President Ilham Aliyev said at the Tuesday opening of the Russian Year in Azerbaijan, Itar-Tass informs.

"This is not an instruction of the authorities, which has to be fulfilled. This is a normal condition of our society," he said. Azerbaijan has a big love for Russian culture, the president added.

"The scale of Russian-language language education has not reduced since the Soviet times. Not a single Russian school has been closed in Azerbaijan, and higher educational establishments still have Russian departments," he said.

"This is not only the fundamental and consistent policy of the government but also a public demand. Therefore, it is very easy to implement this policy in our country," Aliyev said.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are very strong, he said. One of the reasons is that many Russians live in Azerbaijan and many Azerbaijanis live in Russia. "Sincerity, predictability and friendship are principles of our relations," Aliyev said.

He thinks that the Russian Year in Azerbaijan "will help the two peoples know each other better and promote their rapprochement."

Azerbaijan and Russia fruitfully cooperate in politics and regional affairs, he said. "We actively cooperate and support each other at international organizations and in the bilateral relations. We are interested in the development of political dialog," he said.

Russia and Azerbaijan can define their relations as a strategic partnership, Aliyev said. "This solid foundation promotes relations in all spheres," he said.

"The potential of bilateral economic cooperation is considerable," Aliyev said.

Trade turnover between the two countries has been developing at a fast rate. Two years ago, when Aliyev was on an official visit to Moscow, the Russian and Azerbaijani leaders set the target of doubling the turnover.

"We didn't think it would happen so quickly. We brought turnover to one billion dollars in just two years. Evaluating the economic potential of our countries and their industrial development level, one can state that this is not the limit," Aliyev said.

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20:50

"The positive character of the Russian-Azerbaijani interaction is a factor of geopolitical stability all over the region," Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, stated at opening ceremony of the Russia's Year in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, Trend reports.

According to Putin, the sides are to look for and carry out new perspective models of cooperation, more favorable use of both the bilateral opportunities and integration processes at the post-soviet area.

Touching upon the Russian national exhibition opened in Baku, Putin said that it would be not only show of modern Russian achievements, but also new impulse for equal rights and mutually profitable cooperation of historically close countries and nations, which maintained succession during centuries and transmitted traditions from generation to generation.

The Russian President voiced assurance that the program of the Russia's Year in Azerbaijan would be no less popular and interesting than the Azerbaijan's Year in Russia, which was held in 2005. "The Azerbaijan's Year in Russia showed how close the fates of our nations were, how strong was their will to live in peace and harmony with each other, co-assist to development, enrich each other. It is not surprising. Russians and Azerbaijanis showed ability of mutual understanding, acquisition of spiritual values of distinctive cultures, mutual respect and tolerance in national and interreligious relations," Mr. Putin said.

According to Putin, the sides achieved solution of large-scaled economic tasks, including, the Caspian oil field construction and development of the Siberian fields. He voiced interest in strengthening of single humanitarian sphere, development of relations between youth organizations, expansion of ties in science and education. Touching upon the first forum of the CIS creative and scientific intelligentsia planned in Moscow this spring, Putin underlined that this event would be starting point for joint humanitarian projects, opening of common markets of education, scientific and cultural services at the CIS space, human resources in the all CIS countries.

The Russian President also noted that the first international festival of Russian books would be held in Baku soon and become one of the remarkable events of the Russia's Year in Azerbaijan.

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18:55

A grand opening ceremony of the Russia's national exhibition has taken place today at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex. The exposition has been organized in the framework of grand events timed for the opening of the Year of the Russian Federation in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and Russia, Vladimir Putin, have taken part in it.

Over 140 enterprises from 21 regions of the Russian Federation exhibited their expositions in the area of 3200 square meters, besides, the exhibits are displayed on the open site. The following is presented at the exhibition: the oil-field and technological equipment, rolled ferrous metal and reinforcing steel, pipes, energy and electrical equipment, output of chemical and timber industry, building equipment, materials and technology, agricultural machinery, tourism, poligraphy, packing. Holding of workshops and roundtables on various subjects is scheduled within the forum.

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18:07

President Vladimir Putin has commemorated Azerbaijani first President Heydar Aliyev. He laid a wreath to the Aliyev tomb right upon his arrival in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, Itar-Tass informs.

Putin also laid a bouquet of white roses to the tomb of Heydar Aliyev's spouse.

Accompanying the Russian President here were Baku Mayor Hajibala Abutalybov and Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov.

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17:07

Presidential plane landed in the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met the Russian leader at the airport along with a guard of honor, RIA "Novosti" reports.

A Kremlin spokesperson said holding the Year of Russia would improve bilateral relations, enhance political contacts and boost economic, scientific, educational and cultural cooperation.

"The Year of Russia envisages various events aiming to maintain the two nations' common cultural heritage, encourage contacts between the citizens of Russia and Azerbaijan, cooperation between public organizations and the creation of a common educational, cultural and informational space," the source said.

In 2006, Azerbaijan will host exhibitions of major Russian museums, concerts of famous singers and bands and many other events and programs.

The two countries' leaders reached an agreement to hold such events back in 2004 during Aliyev's official visit to Russia. The Year of Azerbaijan in Russia was held in 2005.